Axiom-4 Mission Success: Shubhanshu Shukla Becomes First Indian to Reach ISS as Crew Dragon Grace Docks.

Axiom-4 Mission Success: Shubhanshu Shukla Becomes First Indian to Reach ISS as Crew Dragon Grace Docks.

On June 25, 2025, a historic milestone was achieved as the Axiom-4 (Ax-4) private space mission, a collaboration between Axiom Space and SpaceX, successfully launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 12:01 PM IST. The Crew Dragon spacecraft, named Grace by its crew, carried four astronauts, including Indian Air Force Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, who became the first Indian to visit the International Space Station (ISS). This marks a significant moment for India’s space program, 41 years after Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma’s 1984 mission to the Salyut 7 space station.

A Diverse Crew with a Shared Mission

The Ax-4 crew comprises:

Commander Peggy Whitson (USA, Axiom Space), a former NASA astronaut and record-holder for the most time spent in space by an American.

Pilot Shubhanshu Shukla (India, ISRO), the first Indian astronaut to reach the ISS and a key figure in India’s Gaganyaan program.

Mission Specialist Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski (Poland, ESA), marking Poland’s first government-sponsored spaceflight in over 40 years.

Mission Specialist Tibor Kapu (Hungary, HUNOR), representing Hungary’s return to human spaceflight since 1980.

This mission is a landmark for India, Poland, and Hungary, each sending their first astronauts to the ISS, facilitated by a collaboration between NASA, Axiom Space, and SpaceX.

Journey to the ISS: A Flawless Docking

After a 28-hour journey, the Crew Dragon Grace autonomously docked with the ISS’s Harmony module’s space-facing port on June 26, 2025, at approximately 4:01 PM IST, 30 minutes ahead of schedule. The docking process followed critical waypoints:

Waypoint 0: The spacecraft reached 400 meters from the ISS.

Waypoint 1: It closed to 220 meters, preparing for docking.

Waypoint 2: The spacecraft approached within 20 meters, aligning for connection.

Docking: A soft contact was achieved at 4:01 PM IST, followed by a secure connection.

The docking, completed at 6:31 AM ET (10:31 UTC), was a complex maneuver requiring precise alignment of the spacecraft’s position and velocity with the ISS, orbiting 400 km above Earth. The crew was welcomed aboard by the ISS’s Expedition 73 team, including NASA astronauts Nichole Ayers, Anne McClain, and Jonny Kim, JAXA’s Takuya Onishi, and Roscosmos cosmonauts Kirill Peskov, Sergey Ryzhikov, and Alexey Zubritsky. A formal welcome ceremony and safety briefing followed.

Shubhanshu Shukla: Carrying India’s Dreams

Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, a seasoned Indian Air Force officer, is the second Indian to reach space and the first to serve as a mission pilot on an ISS-bound commercial mission. Inspired by Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma, India’s first astronaut, Shukla expressed national pride, stating, “On my shoulders, I have my tricolor, which is telling me that I am not alone and that you are all with me.” His participation in Ax-4 aligns with ISRO’s Gaganyaan program, paving the way for India’s independent crewed missions.

During their 14-day stay, Shukla will conduct seven ISRO-sponsored experiments, including studies on microbial adaptation, muscle atrophy, cognitive effects of screen use, and crop resilience in microgravity. These experiments contribute to India’s growing expertise in human spaceflight.

A Mission of Science and Global Collaboration

The Ax-4 crew will conduct over 60 experiments from 31 countries, the most ambitious research portfolio of any Axiom mission to date. These include studies on bio-manufacturing, bio-astronautics, and student-designed experiments from Brazil and Nigeria. The mission also features STEM outreach, such as ISS ham radio sessions to inspire the next generation of explorers.

The mission faced multiple delays due to a liquid oxygen leak in the Falcon 9 rocket, high-altitude winds, and a separate leak in the ISS’s Zvezda module. After rigorous safety checks and collaboration between NASA and Roscosmos, the launch proceeded with 90% favorable weather conditions.

A Step Toward the Future.

Ax-4 is not just a mission but a stepping stone for Axiom Space’s vision of building the world’s first commercial space station, Axiom Station. It also strengthens international partnerships, with NASA and ISRO collaborating to advance scientific knowledge. As Shukla noted, “This is not just the start of my journey to the ISS but also of India’s human space program.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, along with other leaders, congratulated Shukla, emphasizing the mission’s significance for national pride and global cooperation.

Follow the Journey.

Space enthusiasts can watch live coverage of the mission on axiom.space/live, spacex.com/launches, or NASA+. For real-time updates on who’s in space, visit whoisinspace.com.

This historic mission underscores humanity’s shared ambition to explore the cosmos, with Shubhanshu Shukla carrying the hopes of 1.4 billion Indians into orbit.