NEW DELHI: "India still looks saare jahan se achcha from space," astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla said, echoing Rakesh Sharma’s iconic 1984 remark, as he prepared to wrap up his historic mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS).
Shukla, trained by the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro), became the first Indian to reach the ISS via a private spaceflight , as part of the Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission.
Speaking about his time in orbit, Shukla described the journey as “incredible, almost magical,” adding that today’s India looks ambitious, fearless, confident, and full of pride from space.
The Ax-4 mission is set to undock from the ISS on July 14 at 4.30 pm IST, with Shukla’s splashdown on Earth expected the following day -- July 15 around 3.00 pm IST — the ministry of science and technology confirmed on Sunday.
Launched aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft atop a Falcon 9 rocket from Nasa's Kennedy Space Center, Shukla was part of a four-member Ax-4 crew that included veteran astronaut Peggy Whitson, ESA engineer Slawosz Uznanski-Wiśniewski, and Hungarian astronaut Tibor Kapu.
Trained by Isro, Shukla contributed to a packed research agenda aboard the ISS, where the Ax-4 crew conducted over 60 advanced experiments across cutting-edge domains including biology, artificial intelligence, and materials science. Their scientific output is expected to support future space missions and deepen international collaboration in low-Earth orbit research.
Shukla’s journey marks a historic milestone -- not just for him personally, but for India’s growing role in international space collaboration. A former IAF officer and aerospace engineer from Uttar Pradesh, Shukla is the first Indian to reach the ISS via a private spaceflight, symbolising the next chapter in India's space odyssey four decades after Rakesh Sharma's iconic voyage in 1984.
His selection followed an intensive training regimen under Isro, which has been actively investing in global partnerships through initiatives like the Gaganyaan mission and commercial satellite launches.
The Axiom-4 mission also carries larger implications for the future of human spaceflight . Operated by the US-based Axiom Space, the Ax-4 mission is part of a broader effort to commercialise low-Earth orbit missions and build the first privately owned space station.
Axiom’s collaboration with national space agencies like Isro not only enhances global cooperation but also provides a blueprint for future public-private missions in space. As the Ax-4 crew prepares to return, Shukla’s voyage is being seen as a symbol of an ambitious, globally engaged, and space-ready India.
Shukla, trained by the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro), became the first Indian to reach the ISS via a private spaceflight , as part of the Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission.
Speaking about his time in orbit, Shukla described the journey as “incredible, almost magical,” adding that today’s India looks ambitious, fearless, confident, and full of pride from space.
The Ax-4 mission is set to undock from the ISS on July 14 at 4.30 pm IST, with Shukla’s splashdown on Earth expected the following day -- July 15 around 3.00 pm IST — the ministry of science and technology confirmed on Sunday.
Launched aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft atop a Falcon 9 rocket from Nasa's Kennedy Space Center, Shukla was part of a four-member Ax-4 crew that included veteran astronaut Peggy Whitson, ESA engineer Slawosz Uznanski-Wiśniewski, and Hungarian astronaut Tibor Kapu.
Trained by Isro, Shukla contributed to a packed research agenda aboard the ISS, where the Ax-4 crew conducted over 60 advanced experiments across cutting-edge domains including biology, artificial intelligence, and materials science. Their scientific output is expected to support future space missions and deepen international collaboration in low-Earth orbit research.
Shukla’s journey marks a historic milestone -- not just for him personally, but for India’s growing role in international space collaboration. A former IAF officer and aerospace engineer from Uttar Pradesh, Shukla is the first Indian to reach the ISS via a private spaceflight, symbolising the next chapter in India's space odyssey four decades after Rakesh Sharma's iconic voyage in 1984.
His selection followed an intensive training regimen under Isro, which has been actively investing in global partnerships through initiatives like the Gaganyaan mission and commercial satellite launches.
The Axiom-4 mission also carries larger implications for the future of human spaceflight . Operated by the US-based Axiom Space, the Ax-4 mission is part of a broader effort to commercialise low-Earth orbit missions and build the first privately owned space station.
Axiom’s collaboration with national space agencies like Isro not only enhances global cooperation but also provides a blueprint for future public-private missions in space. As the Ax-4 crew prepares to return, Shukla’s voyage is being seen as a symbol of an ambitious, globally engaged, and space-ready India.
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