In a milestone moment for India’s space legacy, astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla is set to become the first Indian to reach the International Space Station (ISS) in 41 years. Shukla, along with three other crew members, boarded SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Wednesday for the much-anticipated Axiom-4 commercial space mission.
The mission’s launch, scheduled for 12:01 pm IST, marks a major milestone for Indo-US collaboration in space. Weather conditions were reported to be 90% favorable for lift-off. Shukla, a native of Lucknow, will join former NASA astronaut and mission commander Peggy Whitson, Poland’s Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski, and Hungary’s Tibor Kapu on the voyage.
Their journey aboard the new Dragon spacecraft, mounted atop SpaceX’s Falcon-9 rocket, symbolizes a significant return to space for India, Poland, and Hungary. Shukla’s trip marks the first Indian presence in orbit since Rakesh Sharma’s historic flight aboard the Soviet Salyut-7 station in 1984.
Before boarding, the astronauts completed a month-long quarantine and briefly reunited with family and friends. “Dragon’s hatch is closed, all communication and suit checks are complete, the seats are rotated, and the Ax-4 crew is ready for launch,” SpaceX confirmed on X.
A minor issue during hatch closure was resolved after astronaut Whitson spotted a fiber, prompting a successful second leak check. The spacecraft is now ready for docking, which is expected at 4:30 pm IST on Thursday, June 26.
Excitement has rippled across India, with watch parties organized at schools including Shukla’s alma mater, City Montessori School in Lucknow, and institutions in Jamshedpur. The launch, originally set for May 29, faced delays due to readiness issues with Dragon and weather concerns along the ascent path. A subsequent leak in the Falcon-9’s liquid oxygen system and technical issues with the ISS’s Russian module caused further postponements.
The launch follows joint assessments by NASA and Roscosmos, affirming the readiness of the ISS after repair work on its Zvezda service module. “NASA and Roscosmos have a long history of cooperation, enabling Axiom Mission 4 to proceed,” said acting NASA Administrator Janet Petro.
Part of a broader Indo-US collaboration, the mission stems from a 2020 agreement between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and then US President Donald Trump to send an ISRO astronaut to the ISS. Axiom-4 will conduct five joint science experiments and two in-orbit STEM demonstrations.
The crew is expected to spend around two weeks aboard the ISS, engaging in science, education, and commercial outreach—cementing Shukla’s place in history and marking a bold new chapter in India’s space journey.
