Shubhanshu Shukla set to script history as India's second astronaut in space

Shubhanshu Shukla set to script history as India's second astronaut in space

Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla is all set to make history as he prepares for his maiden spaceflight aboard Axiom-4 mission to the International Space Station (ISS).

The mission is scheduled to launch on June 8 from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, with lift-off planned no earlier than 6:41 pm IST aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft.

Shukla will become only the second Indian to travel to space—following Rakesh Sharma’s iconic 1984 mission—marking a significant milestone in India’s growing space ambitions.

He will serve as the mission pilot alongside crew members Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski from Poland and Tibor Kapu from Hungary. Both European countries are also making history with their first-ever human spaceflights to the ISS.

Veteran American astronaut Peggy Whitson will command the Ax-4 mission. The crew will spend up to 14 days aboard the ISS, conducting around 60 scientific experiments and outreach activities representing 31 countries.

"I am really, really excited to go into microgravity and experience spaceflight on my own," Shukla, who goes by the nickname 'Shuks', said at a press conference in January.

Shukla, nicknamed 'Shuks', will carry out seven experiments developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in collaboration with the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and supported by NASA.

"I am really, really excited to go into microgravity and experience spaceflight on my own," Shukla, who goes by the nickname 'Shuks', said at a press conference in January.

These include pioneering food and nutrition studies critical for long-duration space missions. He will test sprouting methi (fenugreek) and moong (green gram) seeds in microgravity, and bring them back to Earth for generational cultivation studies.

Shukla will also participate in five joint experiments under NASA’s Human Research Program, contributing to broader international scientific goals.

In January, Shukla said he also planned to capture his experiences on board the ISS through pictures and videos which can be shared with all the "'Bharatvaasis' back home." "I want them to share this thrilling experience through my eyes, for I truly believe that, even as an individual travelling to space, this is the journey of 1.4 billion people," he said.

Shukla mentioned that he intends to carry select items representing various regions of India to the International Space Station during the 14-day mission. He also expressed a desire to share Indian cuisine with fellow astronauts aboard the space station.

He noted that the insights and experience gained from the Axiom Mission 4 would be highly valuable for India's upcoming Gaganyaan mission, scheduled for 2027. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is investing Rs 550 crore in the Ax-4 mission.