IAF pilot Shubhanshu Shukla makes history with Axiom Mission 4, lifts off on journey to International Space Station
In a landmark moment for India’s space aspirations, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla of the Indian Air Force (IAF) etched his name in history today when he flew into orbit aboard Axiom Mission 4 (X-4), becoming the second Indian to travel to space and the first to do so as a pilot of a commercial space flight. The mission, operated by Axiom Space, was successfully launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, marking a significant step forward for India’s human spaceflight programme and its collaboration with international private space enterprises.
A distinguished test pilot of the IAF, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is serving as the pilot of the X-4 crew, which also includes former NASA astronaut Commander Peggy Whitson and Mission Specialist Walter Villadei of Italy, and a fourth crew member not yet named. The crew is on a multi-day mission to the International Space Station (ISS), where they will conduct a series of scientific experiments and technology demonstrations. This historic flight is a precursor to India’s own ambitious Gaganyaan mission, which aims to send Indian astronauts to space on Indian spacecraft.
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is one of the four astronauts for the Gaganyaan programme, and his experience on the Ax-4 mission will provide invaluable insights and practical knowledge for India’s future human spaceflight efforts. Born in 1985, Group Captain Shukla has had an illustrious career in the Indian Air Force. An accomplished pilot with extensive experience flying a variety of aircraft, his selection for this prestigious international mission is a testimony to his exceptional skills and dedication.
Axiom Mission 4 is the fourth crewed flight for Axiom Space, which is at the forefront of building the world’s first commercial space station. These missions are designed to provide a platform for nations, researchers and private individuals to access low Earth orbit for scientific research, technology development and other commercial activities.
For India, this mission represents a strategic move to leverage the growing private space sector to accelerate its own space ambitions. By partnering with Axiom Space, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has provided one of its top astronaut-designates with crucial practical experience in a real-time space environment.
The experiments to be conducted by Group Captain Shukla on the ISS are expected to make significant contributions to the Gaganyaan programme, particularly in the areas of life support systems, human health in microgravity and spacecraft operations. The successful launch of Axiom Mission 4 with an Indian astronaut has received widespread praise across India. Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is carrying the aspirations of a billion people orbiting the Earth, marking the beginning of a new and exciting chapter in India’s journey to the stars.
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