Indian space astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla will be going to space on June 10, 2025, to board a special mission named Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4). The mission is a joint effort involving NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration), ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation), Axiom Space, and SpaceX. It’s a happy day because Shubhanshu will be the first ISRO astronaut to fly aboard the International Space Station (ISS).
The goal is to follow the promise previously made by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former US President Donald Trump to collaborate and launch an Indian space traveller into space. This indicates the growing relationship between India and America in space science.
The rocket will launch from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 8:22 am local time on Tuesday, June 10. The astronauts will be riding the new SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, to be launched on a Falcon 9 rocket. The spacecraft will dock at the ISS about 12:30 pm on Wednesday, June 11.
The crew will be commanded by Peggy Whitson, a former NASA astronaut but now Director of Human Spaceflight at Axiom Space. The pilot will be Shubhanshu Shukla, in an important position. Two other astronauts will accompany them, Poland’s Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski and Hungary’s Tibor Kapu. It will also be the first time that Polish and Hungarian astronauts will be on board.
The astronauts will remain at the space station for about two weeks. They will execute several scientific experiments, inspire education in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, and carry out commercial activities.
The #Ax4 crew checks on their #Dragon spacecraft before launch day. Watch the launch live at https://t.co/e8iLPFplbC. pic.twitter.com/2ZKVkLzAEC
— Axiom Space (@Axiom_Space) June 7, 2025
Axiom Mission 4, the fourth private astronaut mission from @Axiom_Space, is targeted to launch at 8:22am ET, Tuesday, June 10, from @NASAKennedy to the orbital outpost. Watch live on @NASA+. https://t.co/Q17wlauNFC
— International Space Station (@Space_Station) June 4, 2025
Who Is Subhanshu Shukla?
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is an Indian Air Force Test Pilot and Astronaut. Shukla, who is a native of Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, completed his schooling at the City Montessori School. He was deeply inspired by the 1999 Kargil War, after which he decided to apply for the UPSC, and he eventually cleared it. He completed his military training and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from the National Defence Academy in 2005.
He was then selected for the flying branch and underwent training at the Indian Air Force Academy. In June 2006, he was commissioned into the Fighter stream of the Indian Air Force as a Flying Officer. He is a combat leader and seasoned test pilot with about 2,000 hours of flying experience across various aircrafts.
NASA and ISRO are also collaborating on two joint science experiments and five space technology-based educational programs. NASA issued a statement saying that they are honoured to have this long-term cooperation with ISRO, and they look forward to further space cooperation in the years to come.
The International Space Station made an announcement through social media, stating the launch date and glorifying this historic international space mission.
