In a historic milestone for India’s space ambitions, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is set to become the second Indian to travel to space, nearly four decades after Rakesh Sharma. Shukla, an officer in the Indian Air Force, has been designated as the Mission Pilot for Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4), scheduled for launch in May 2024, according to an update from NASA.
India’s Representation in Axiom Mission 4
Shukla will join a multinational crew aboard Axiom Space Inc.’s private astronaut mission to the International Space Station (ISS). The mission, which will lift off from Kennedy Space Center in Florida, will be carried out using a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft atop a Falcon 9 rocket.
The Indian astronaut will be accompanied by:
- Peggy Whitson (Mission Commander, former NASA astronaut)
- Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski (Poland)
- Tibor Kapu (Hungary)
India has also selected Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair as a backup astronaut for the mission, should Shukla be unable to fly.
India’s Spaceflight Milestone
Shukla’s participation in Ax-4 marks a significant step for India’s Gaganyaan mission, the country’s first human spaceflight program. As part of its collaboration with NASA and Axiom Space, India secured a seat for its astronaut on this private spaceflight. The Gaganyaan mission aims to send a three-member crew into a 400-km low Earth orbit for a three-day mission in the near future.
Ax-4 Mission Details
The Ax-4 mission will be the fourth private astronaut mission to the ISS, following three earlier flights by Axiom Space:
- Ax-1 (April 2022) – 17 days aboard ISS
- Ax-2 (May 2023) – 8 days in orbit
- Ax-3 (January 2024) – 18 days in space
The Ax-4 crew is expected to stay aboard the ISS for up to 14 days, conducting scientific research, outreach, and commercial activities. This mission will also mark the first astronauts from Poland and Hungary visiting the space station.
India’s Space Legacy and Future Missions
The launch of Ax-4 comes just months after Indian-origin NASA astronaut Sunita Williams returned to Earth following 286 days in space. With Shubhanshu Shukla’s journey, India is reaffirming its position in global space exploration while advancing its Gaganyaan mission and strengthening partnerships with leading space agencies.
Sources By Agencies
