The excitement was almost visible in the skies today. As the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft approached the International Space Station (ISS), history was already in the making. Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, serving as the mission pilot, is now the first ISRO astronaut to reach the ISS, bringing pride to millions back home.
Dragon Docks Ahead of Schedule
The Dragon spacecraft, carrying the Axiom Mission 4 crew, arrived earlier than expected. It docked smoothly at the Harmony module’s space-facing port at 6:18 a.m. EDT (3:48 p.m. IST) on Thursday. The mission began with a flawless lift-off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre in Florida at 2:31 a.m. EDT on June 25.
Aboard the spacecraft were four astronauts — former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, ISRO’s Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, ESA’s Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski from Poland, and Tibor Kapu from Hungary. Their journey marks a series of firsts, including the first astronauts from Poland and Hungary to visit the ISS.
The mission is a joint effort between NASA and ISRO. Shukla’s presence marks a significant step for India’s space ambitions. Once docked, the crew will spend about 14 days on the ISS. Their schedule includes science research, educational outreach, and several commercial tasks.
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“A Magical Ride,” Says Shukla
Speaking from space during a live chat, Shukla described his experience as “magical.” He recalled sitting inside the capsule ‘Grace’ after 30 days of strict quarantine. “All I could think was, just go,” he said. When the engines fired, he felt a powerful push into his seat. Then came sudden silence as they floated into the vacuum of space. “It’s absolutely magical,” Shukla shared with a smile.
READ MORE: "Amazing feeling to lift off" - Shubhanshu Shukla shares first words from Axiom-4 Mission
Shukla also expressed deep gratitude to everyone behind the mission. “This is not just my achievement,” he said. “It belongs to every person who made this possible. It is truly a collective effort.”
Packed Mission Awaits the Crew
NASA flight engineers Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers monitored Dragon’s automated docking process. The seven Expedition 73 members aboard the ISS welcomed the Ax-4 crew warmly after arrival. A safety briefing was the first task before moving into mission preparations.
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This is Axiom Space’s most research-focused mission so far. The crew will carry out several joint experiments from NASA and ISRO. These include studies on muscle regeneration in microgravity and growing edible microalgae. Another experiment will test how aquatic microorganisms survive in space. They will also observe how humans interact with digital screens during space missions.
These experiments are expected to help future space missions. They may also bring valuable knowledge for solving problems back on Earth.
The Axiom-4 mission is not just a milestone for space exploration. It marks a proud chapter for India, as it prepares for bigger missions like Gaganyaan in the coming years.
ALSO READ: India’s first human spaceflight mission, Gaganyaan, to launch in early 2027
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