Shubhanshu Shukla Becomes First Indian to Enter International Space Station, Marking a Historic Milestone

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Shubhanshu Shukla
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New Delhi– In a landmark achievement for India, Indian Air Force Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla made history on Thursday by becoming the first Indian to enter the International Space Station (ISS), and only the second Indian in space after Rakesh Sharma’s mission in 1984.

After a wait of more than four decades, India once again has an astronaut among the stars. Shukla, born in Lucknow, joins the crew of Axiom Space’s AX-4 mission, which docked successfully at the space-facing port of the ISS’s Harmony module at 6:30 a.m. ET (4:00 p.m. IST).

Axiom Space confirmed the milestone on social media, posting, “#Ax4 have entered the Space_Station,” over an hour after docking.

The crew arrived aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft named Grace, which launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 2:31 a.m. EDT (12 noon IST), atop a Falcon 9 rocket. The AX-4 mission includes Commander Peggy Whitson, Pilot Shubhanshu Shukla, and Mission Specialists Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski of Poland and Tibor Kapu of Hungary.

Upon boarding the ISS, the AX-4 astronauts were greeted by the seven members of Expedition 73: Anne McClain, Nichole Ayers, Kirill Peskov, Jonny Kim, Sergey Ryzhikov, Alexey Zubritsky, and Takuya Onishi.

“The world watches as India scales the skies…” wrote Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State for Science and Technology, on X (formerly Twitter).

Dr. S. Somanath, former ISRO chairman, added, “It is heartening to see how India’s scientific ecosystem is confidently scripting its chapter in space research. With Shubhanshu Shukla on board, India is not just a passenger—we are a partner, a participant, and a future-ready spacefaring nation. His presence will significantly contribute to the Gaganyaan mission, offering valuable insights into long-duration spaceflight and life science payloads.”

Sharing his excitement from orbit, Group Captain Shukla said, “Hello everyone, namaskar from space. I’m thrilled to be here with my fellow astronauts. Wow, what a ride it was. Sitting in the capsule on the launchpad, my only thought was: let’s just go.”

He described the experience of launch as “amazing,” noting the moment of weightlessness: “You’re getting pushed back in your seat—and then suddenly, nothing. You’re floating in a vacuum.” He added with a laugh, “I’m learning like a baby—how to walk and eat in space.”

Before liftoff, Shukla remarked that the mission marked “the beginning of India’s human spaceflight journey.” True to that spirit, he carried along homemade treats—carrot halwa, moong dal halwa, and mango nectar—to enjoy a taste of home while in orbit.

The Axiom-4 mission symbolizes more than just scientific success—it marks India’s growing prominence as a global leader in space technology and innovation. The mission showcases the country’s ability to contribute meaningfully to international space efforts while advancing its own scientific frontiers.

While aboard the ISS, Shukla will conduct groundbreaking research in food science and space nutrition. A major focus will be on studying microalgae—nutrient-dense organisms seen as vital to future long-duration missions. His experiments will analyze how microgravity and space radiation affect algal growth, structure, and biochemical properties, comparing space-grown samples to Earth-based controls.

This pioneering work may lay the foundation for sustainable food systems in space exploration, further solidifying India’s role in shaping the future of human spaceflight. (Source: IANS)

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