Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla of the Indian Air Force is poised to become the first Indian astronaut to visit the International Space Station (ISS) as part of Axiom Space's fourth private mission, Axiom-4 (Ax-4). The mission, originally scheduled for June 8, 2025, has been rescheduled to launch on June 10 at 5:52 PM IST from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Shukla, a seasoned test pilot with over 2,000 flight hours on various aircraft including the Su-30 MKI and MiG-29, was selected as one of the astronauts for India's Gaganyaan mission. His participation in Ax-4 marks a significant milestone in India's space exploration journey, as he becomes only the second Indian to travel to space after Rakesh Sharma's mission in 1984.

The Ax-4 mission is a collaborative effort involving Axiom Space, NASA, SpaceX, and international partners. Shukla will serve as the pilot alongside mission commander Peggy Whitson, a veteran NASA astronaut. The crew also includes mission specialists Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski from Poland and Tibor Kapu from Hungary.

During the 14-day mission aboard the ISS, Shukla is expected to conduct scientific experiments and participate in outreach activities. He has expressed a desire to showcase Indian culture in space by performing yoga and sharing traditional Indian cuisine with fellow astronauts.

Shukla's involvement in the Ax-4 mission not only highlights India's growing presence in international space collaborations but also provides valuable experience for the upcoming Gaganyaan mission. His journey symbolizes a significant step forward in India's ambitions for human spaceflight and exploration.