Daijiworld Media Network – Florida
Florida (USA), Jun 25: After a gap of 41 years since Rakesh Sharma's historic spaceflight, India has marked another milestone with Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla becoming the second Indian to travel into space. He launched aboard SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida, as part of Axiom Space’s AX-4 mission to the International Space Station (ISS).
Shukla, born in 1985, has broken new ground as the first Indian to visit the ISS. A test pilot with extensive experience flying aircraft such as the MiG-21, MiG-29, Dornier, AN-32, and Sukhoi-30 MKI, he now serves as mission pilot, overseeing the spacecraft’s autonomous systems.
Initially scheduled for May 29, the launch faced seven delays due to technical issues and weather conditions affecting Falcon-9, Dragon, and ISS readiness. The crew, including Shukla, remained in extended quarantine, while mission teams from SpaceX, Axiom, NASA, and ISRO worked to resolve issues and replenish biological samples.
When the Merlin engines roared to life, the Falcon-9 rocket soared into the sky, delivering the Dragon capsule into Low Earth Orbit. As the second stage fired, Dragon locked onto its docking trajectory toward the ISS, 400 km above Earth. Shukla's family, including his wife and children, watched the launch with pride from the sidelines.
Shukla, affectionately called ‘Shux’ by his team, is joined by an elite international crew. Dr Peggy Whitson (USA), the most experienced American astronaut with 675 days in space, commands the mission, Sawosz Uznanski (Poland) and Tibor Kapu (Hungary) serve as mission specialists. Kapu, Hungary's second astronaut, brings expertise in space materials and radiation shielding.
During the 14-day mission, Shukla will perform seven experiments designed by Indian scientists, focusing on microgravity’s effects on food, health, and biology. These include growing Indian superfoods like moong and methi in space, studying microbial behavior, muscle loss, mental health, and cell ageing, testing edible algae for potential use as space food, and engaging with Indian students from orbit to inspire future space explorers.
Shukla’s mission is not just symbolic — it directly supports India’s upcoming Gaganyaan human spaceflight programme, where he is also one of the four astronaut candidates. The operational insights gained from Ax-4 — including international collaboration, life in microgravity, medical protocols, and scientific research — will be instrumental in preparing India’s first crewed mission.
As Shubhanshu Shukla orbits Earth, he carries not just the tricolour but the aspirations of a nation poised to step confidently into its space future.