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Crew of 4 including Indian Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla Embarks on Journey

Axiom-4 Mission for the Development of the World’s First Commercial Space Station

Florida (USA) – Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla embarked on his journey to the International Space Station on 25.06.2025 from NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre. A roaring Falcon 9 rocket propelled four astronauts toward the International Space Station on Wednesday morning.  It will take 28 1/2 hours for Shubhanshu Shukla and the other 3 astronauts to reach the space station. The mission has been called ‘Axiom-4’. India has spent about ₹548 crore on this mission so far. The other astronauts with Shubhanshu Shukla on this mission are Commander Peggy Whitson (USA), two ‘Mission Specialists’ viz. Slawosz  Uznanski (Poland) and ‘Mission Specialist’ Tibor Kapu (Hungary). The journey was to start on 08.06.2025, which was postponed to 10.06.2025 due to adverse weather conditions and finally took off on 25.06.2025.

I am carrying the ‘Tri-colour’ on my shoulder! – Shubhanshu Shukla

On reaching space, Shubhanshu Shukla, in his first message from space, said, “Namaskar, my beloved Indians! What a journey this is! After 41 years (Rakesh Sharma was the first Indian astronaut to go to space in 1984), we have returned to space. It is an extraordinary journey. We are orbiting around the Earth at a speed of 7.5 km per second. I have our ‘Tri-colour’ on my shoulders, which reminds me that India is with me. My journey is not the start of a journey to the International Space Station, but it is the beginning of India’s human space programme. I feel all of you should be a part of this journey. You should also feel proud. Let us all begin India’s human space programme. Jai Hind! Jai Bharat !”

Purpose of the mission

The main aim of the ‘Axiom-4’ mission is to conduct research in space and test new technology. This mission will also encourage private space travel. There is a plan to build a commercial space station in the future.

Experiments to be carried out during the mission  

1. To conduct different experiments in microgravity

2. To test and develop new technology in space

3. To make available a common platform for astronauts from various countries

4. To spread awareness and inspire people on Earth from space

Who is Shubhanshu Shukla ?

Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is an Indian Air Force Captain and an ISRO astronaut. He is from Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. He joined the Air Force as a pilot on fighter planes. In 2019, he was promoted to wing commander and in March 2024, he became the group captain.

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