In a historic milestone for Indian space exploration, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla became the first Indian astronaut to reach the International Space Station (ISS), 28 hours after launching from NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre as part of the Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission. This marks India's return to human spaceflight after 41 years since Rakesh Sharma’s 1984 mission.

Shukla, serving as the mission pilot, was joined by commander Peggy Whitson (USA), and mission specialists Sawosz Uznanski (Poland) and Tibor Kapu (Hungary) — making it the first ISS journey for astronauts from both Poland and Hungary. The Ax-4 crew docked successfully at the ISS’s Harmony module, where they were welcomed warmly by the Expedition 73 team.

During their 14-day stay, the Ax-4 team will collaborate on over 60 scientific experiments, including work in cancer research, DNA repair, and advanced manufacturing. Shukla’s message from space — “Namaskar from space” — captured national pride, as India continues to strengthen its role in global space efforts through innovation and international cooperation.