Announcing a timeline for what will be a huge milestone in India’s space journey, the Centre has said Gaganyatri, or astronaut-designate, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla will fly to the International Space Station next month.
Union Minister for Space and Technology Dr Jitendra Singh said, “The International space mission carrying an Indian astronaut is scheduled for next month. India is poised to script a defining chapter in its space journey. An Indian astronaut is set for a historic space mission as ISRO charts bold new frontiers. India’s space dreams are soaring higher with Gaganyaan preparations, ISS mission, and a summer of launches.”
Group Captain Shukla, who has been training with NASA and the private space company Axiom Space for the past eight months, is flying to the ISS on a private commercial mission for which India has paid upwards of $60 million. The mission will be launched on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and the crew of four will be seated in a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule, which will lift off from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, USA.
The Group Captain is 40 years old and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chose the youngest of its astronaut designates for this mission as he has a long career ahead of him.
The commander of the Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission will be former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, who now works for Axiom Space. The other two crew members are Slawosz Uznanski from Poland, who is a European Space Agency astronaut and will be a mission specialist, and Hungary’s Tibor Kapu, who will also have the same role. Group Captain Shukla will be the mission’s pilot.
Axiom (4×4) crew will fly to the International Space Station next month.
Significance, Experience
Minister Singh said the mission will mark the first-ever visit to the International Space Station by an Indian astronaut and Group Captain Shukla will be the first astronaut from the country to travel to space in over four decades after Rakesh Sharma’s iconic 1984 flight aboard a Soviet Soyuz spacecraft.
Dr V Narayanan, Secretary, Department of Space and Chairman of ISRO, said that Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla of the Indian Air Force is prepared for the mission.
A decorated test pilot with the Indian Air Force, Group Captain Shukla was shortlisted under ISRO’s Human Spaceflight Program (HSP) and is among the top contenders for the Gaganyaan mission, India’s first indigenous crewed orbital flight. His journey aboard the Ax-4 mission is expected to provide critical hands-on experience in spaceflight operations, launch protocols, microgravity adaptation, and emergency preparedness – all essential for India’s crewed space ambitions.
Shubhanshu Shukla and Slawosz Uznanski, review a procedure checklist card during training within
Photo Credit: Axiom Space
What sets Group Captain Shukla’s mission apart is its strategic importance. Unlike the symbolic undertones of India’s first human spaceflight, this time the focus is on operational readiness and global integration. His participation underscores India’s growing engagement with public-private international partnerships in space and its resolve to emerge as a serious contender in human space exploration.
“India is ready for its next space milestone,” said Mr Singh, underscoring the significance of the upcoming human spaceflight and a series of critical ISRO missions. He noted that the collaboration with international partners and the strategic momentum of projects like Gaganyaan reflect India’s commitment to becoming a global leader in space technology. The minister emphasised that these efforts are not only scientific in nature but also aligned with the vision of a developed and self-reliant India.
As India’s space strategy matures, Group Captain Shukla’s upcoming mission stands as a symbol of a confident, forward-looking nation ready to reclaim its place in the global space race. His journey is more than just a flight – it’s a signal that India is stepping boldly into a new era of space exploration.
