In a moment of unparalleled pride for India, Wing Commander Shubhanshu Shukla, who is an officer of the Indian Air Force, has made history enter his name into the pages of space history. On 25th June 2025, at 12:01 PM IST, Shubhanshu embarked on a journey to space as a part of the elite Axiom-4 Mission from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, USA. With this, he has become the first Indian in space since Rakesh Sharma’s record-breaking mission in 1984.

The accomplishment is not only a giant leap in India’s involvement in global space missions but also evidence of India’s increasing global presence of astronauts in joint missions with organizations such as NASA and private space entities such as Axiom Space.

A Mission Years in the Making

The Axiom-4 Mission is a 14-day mission to the International Space Station (ISS), carried out in collaboration between NASA and Axiom Space, a US-based private aerospace firm seeking to establish the world’s first-ever commercial space station. Shubhanshu, joined by three fellow astronauts from Poland, Hungary, and the United States, is flying on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, seated within the Dragon spacecraft—a trusted and reusable capsule built by SpaceX.

Although the mission had encountered a number of delays owing to technical and scheduling issues, the successful launch from Cape Canaveral is now a significant milestone. As the rocket broke through the Earth’s atmosphere and vanished into the endless blue sky, it was not only carrying astronauts but also the aspirations of a billion Indians.

From Lucknow to Low Earth Orbit- Shubhanshu Shukla Makes History

Shubhanshu Shukla is from Lucknow, the capital of Uttar Pradesh. An Indian Air Force Group Captain, Shubhanshu has traveled to space through sheer hard work, rigorous training, and outstanding merit. Having been trained for more than a year with global astronauts and agencies, Shubhanshu was handpicked to be India’s representative in the Axiom-4 Mission—a badge of honor for his knowledge, toughness, and proficiency in aeronautics and space systems.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath welcomed Shubhanshu to his historic mission as a matter of pride for the state of Uttar Pradesh and the entire nation. His appointment also underscores the vital role of India’s defense forces in developing talent that can achieve the outermost limits of human endeavor.

India’s Second Step in Human Spaceflight

The memory of Rakesh Sharma, who traveled into space on 3rd April 1984 on the Soviet spacecraft Soyuz T-11, continues to occupy a unique position in the heart of every Indian. With his famous reply “Saare Jahan Se Accha” when questioned about the appearance of India from space, Sharma earned the status of a national hero and an icon of India’s space drive.

Today, 41 years after the first, Shubhanshu Shukla is the second Indian national in space, and the first to go up with a Western commercial space company. In contrast to Sharma’s mission on the Soviet spacecraft in the Cold War era, Shubhanshu’s journey heralds a different time—one of international cooperation and commercialization of space travel.

What the Axiom-4 Mission Means

Axiom Space, the company behind this mission, is at the forefront of commercializing low Earth orbit with private missions to the ISS and the eventual development of a private space station. Axiom-4 is the fourth private mission to the ISS, and similar to its predecessors, it has international astronauts on board and will perform scientific research, technology demonstrations, and outreach operations during its two-week stay.

The fact that Shubhanshu Shukla is part of this mission signifies India’s increasing entry into international space cooperation outside national agency ISRO. It creates a trend for future public astronauts from India to be involved in collaborative missions and paves the way for public-private collaborations in space travel.

Inspiration for the Future

To millions of young Indians who dream of reaching the stars, Shubhanshu’s achievement is more than a flight into space—it is a promise of possibility. His own history as an Air Force officer demonstrates that India’s defense and space industries can collaborate to provide opportunities for the ambitious to explore the universe.

With its own Gaganyaan program—the first manned Indian spaceflight program by ISRO—on the horizon in the near future, Shubhanshu’s mission brings pace and popular momentum to India’s space ambitions.

Final Thoughts

With Shubhanshu Shukla flying off to his 14-day space odyssey on the ISS, India looks on proudly and eagerly. His mission signifies more than individual success; it signifies India’s ability to make a meaningful contribution to global space exploration efforts.

Whether it’s pushing frontiers of research in microgravity, encouraging scientists and engineers of the future, or forging greater diplomatic relationships through diplomacy in space, Axiom-4 Mission is a testimony that India’s mission to the stars is in full swing.

Until we hear more about Shubhanshu’s activities on the ISS, one thing is for sure—the sky is no longer the limit for India.