Shubhanshu Shukla becomes first Indian to enter ISS
Houston: Axiom-4 mission Pilot and Indian Air Force (IAF) Group Captain, Shubhanshu Shukla, has called it a "privilege" to become the 634th human in space and the first Indian to enter the International Space Station (ISS), saying the experience of seeing Earth from such a vantage point was "wonderful."
He added that with the Tricolour on his shoulder and the blessings of fellow Indians, the next 14 days of science and exploration would be "truly exciting."
Axiom Space's Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) crew successfully reached the International Space Station on Thursday in a journey that lasted approximately 28 hours. The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft docked with the International Space Station Harmony module at 6:21 a.m. ET while soaring over the expansive North Atlantic, as per Axiom's statement.
After receiving his official astronaut pin from Ax-4 Mission Commander Peggy Whitson, Shukla said, "I am no 634, that's a privilege."
"To be fair, it is a privilege to be amongst the few who have got the chance to see the Earth from a vantage point that I have been able to see now. It has been a wonderful ride. I was looking forward to coming to space--it is something to look forward. But the moment I entered the ISS, I felt welcomed. You (Expedition 73 crew) guys literally opened up your doors like your house doors for us, that was fantastic. The expectations I had were surpassed, so thank you so much; this was fantastic. I am confident the next 14 days are going to be amazing doing science and research," said Shukla in his 'arrival remarks' after entering the ISS.
In a message to Indians (in Hindi), Shukla said, "I have a small message for my countrymen: It is because of your love and blessings that I have safely reached the International Space Station. It may look easy to stand here, but it is not; my head is aching. However, we will get used to it. We will be here for 14 days, conducting scientific experiments and speaking with you. This is a milestone for India. Let's make this journey exciting and let everyone participate with interest."
"The Tricolour I bear on my shoulder makes me feel as though the entire country is with me. I believe the next 14 days are going to be truly interesting," he reiterated.
The Axiom Mission 4 crew, Commander Peggy Whitson, Pilot Shubhanshu Shukla, Mission Specialist Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski of Poland, and Mission Specialist Tibor Kapu of Hungary, entered the ISS at 8:23 a.m. EDT after a smooth docking aboard the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft 'Grace', as per an official statement.
Their arrival was marked by a traditional welcome ceremony hosted by NASA's Expedition 73 crew.
Axiom-4 Mission Commander Whitson, veteran astronaut, in her message to the rookie astronauts, said, "The best thing about being a commander with all rookies is that you get to watch the rookies go for the first time. It helps you remember all the things you went through for the first time, and it's also special to relive the experience through these guys."
Following her remarks, Whitson handed out astronaut pins to the first-time spacefarers -- officially recognising Shubhanshu Shukla as astronaut No. 634, Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski as No. 635, and Tibor Kapu as No. 636.
The Ax-4 mission will "realize the return" to human spaceflight for India, Poland, and Hungary, with each nation's first government-sponsored flight in more than 40 years. While Ax-4 marks these countries' second human spaceflight mission in history, it will be the first time all three nations will execute a mission on board the International Space Station. This historic mission underscores how Axiom Space is redefining the pathway to low-Earth orbit and elevating national space programs globally, as mentioned in a release from Axiom Space.
Their schedule includes work in areas such as biology, muscle regeneration, edible microalgae, digital interface testing, and the survival of aquatic organisms, with research jointly designed by NASA, ISRO, and Axiom Space.
The Ax-4 crew launched from NASA's Kennedy Space Centre in Florida at 3:21 am ET on Wednesday, June 25, aboard a Falcon 9 rocket. This marks Axiom Space's most research-intensive mission to date, with over 60 scientific experiments and technology demonstrations planned.
This mission is especially significant as it marks the first time since 1984 that an Indian astronaut has reached the ISS, symbolising not just Shukla's achievement but also India's growing role in international space exploration.
The Ax-4 crew is expected to stay aboard the space station for up to 14 days.
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Times of Oman
2 days ago
- Times of Oman
Shubhanshu Shukla becomes first Indian to enter ISS
Houston: Axiom-4 mission Pilot and Indian Air Force (IAF) Group Captain, Shubhanshu Shukla, has called it a "privilege" to become the 634th human in space and the first Indian to enter the International Space Station (ISS), saying the experience of seeing Earth from such a vantage point was "wonderful." He added that with the Tricolour on his shoulder and the blessings of fellow Indians, the next 14 days of science and exploration would be "truly exciting." Axiom Space's Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) crew successfully reached the International Space Station on Thursday in a journey that lasted approximately 28 hours. The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft docked with the International Space Station Harmony module at 6:21 a.m. ET while soaring over the expansive North Atlantic, as per Axiom's statement. After receiving his official astronaut pin from Ax-4 Mission Commander Peggy Whitson, Shukla said, "I am no 634, that's a privilege." "To be fair, it is a privilege to be amongst the few who have got the chance to see the Earth from a vantage point that I have been able to see now. It has been a wonderful ride. I was looking forward to coming to space--it is something to look forward. But the moment I entered the ISS, I felt welcomed. You (Expedition 73 crew) guys literally opened up your doors like your house doors for us, that was fantastic. The expectations I had were surpassed, so thank you so much; this was fantastic. I am confident the next 14 days are going to be amazing doing science and research," said Shukla in his 'arrival remarks' after entering the ISS. In a message to Indians (in Hindi), Shukla said, "I have a small message for my countrymen: It is because of your love and blessings that I have safely reached the International Space Station. It may look easy to stand here, but it is not; my head is aching. However, we will get used to it. We will be here for 14 days, conducting scientific experiments and speaking with you. This is a milestone for India. Let's make this journey exciting and let everyone participate with interest." "The Tricolour I bear on my shoulder makes me feel as though the entire country is with me. I believe the next 14 days are going to be truly interesting," he reiterated. The Axiom Mission 4 crew, Commander Peggy Whitson, Pilot Shubhanshu Shukla, Mission Specialist Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski of Poland, and Mission Specialist Tibor Kapu of Hungary, entered the ISS at 8:23 a.m. EDT after a smooth docking aboard the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft 'Grace', as per an official statement. Their arrival was marked by a traditional welcome ceremony hosted by NASA's Expedition 73 crew. Axiom-4 Mission Commander Whitson, veteran astronaut, in her message to the rookie astronauts, said, "The best thing about being a commander with all rookies is that you get to watch the rookies go for the first time. It helps you remember all the things you went through for the first time, and it's also special to relive the experience through these guys." Following her remarks, Whitson handed out astronaut pins to the first-time spacefarers -- officially recognising Shubhanshu Shukla as astronaut No. 634, Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski as No. 635, and Tibor Kapu as No. 636. The Ax-4 mission will "realize the return" to human spaceflight for India, Poland, and Hungary, with each nation's first government-sponsored flight in more than 40 years. While Ax-4 marks these countries' second human spaceflight mission in history, it will be the first time all three nations will execute a mission on board the International Space Station. This historic mission underscores how Axiom Space is redefining the pathway to low-Earth orbit and elevating national space programs globally, as mentioned in a release from Axiom Space. Their schedule includes work in areas such as biology, muscle regeneration, edible microalgae, digital interface testing, and the survival of aquatic organisms, with research jointly designed by NASA, ISRO, and Axiom Space. The Ax-4 crew launched from NASA's Kennedy Space Centre in Florida at 3:21 am ET on Wednesday, June 25, aboard a Falcon 9 rocket. This marks Axiom Space's most research-intensive mission to date, with over 60 scientific experiments and technology demonstrations planned. This mission is especially significant as it marks the first time since 1984 that an Indian astronaut has reached the ISS, symbolising not just Shukla's achievement but also India's growing role in international space exploration. The Ax-4 crew is expected to stay aboard the space station for up to 14 days.
Times of Oman
2 days ago
- Times of Oman
Axiom-4 piloted by Group Captain Shukla docks successfully at International Space Station
Florida: Axiom 4 mission aboard the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft successfully docked at the International Space Station on Thursday. The Dragon spacecraft was ahead of schedule, autonomously docking at 4:05 pm (IST) to the space-facing port of the space station's Harmony module. NASA Flight Engineers Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers monitored Dragon's automated approach and docking manoeuvres. The Ax-4 crew will be welcomed by the seven-member Expedition 73 team and will now take part in a safety briefing. Former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, ESA (European Space Agency) astronauts Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski of Poland, and Tibor Kapu of Hungary lifted off at Noon IST on June 25, on the SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Centre in Florida. The astronauts plan to spend about two weeks aboard the orbiting laboratory, conducting a mission comprised of science, outreach, and commercial activities. The mission is sending the first ISRO astronaut to the station as part of a joint effort between NASA and the Indian space agency. The private mission also carries the first astronauts from Poland and Hungary to stay aboard the space station. Earlier, in a live interaction from aboard the spacecraft, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, serving as the mission pilot, described the launch as "magical" and reflected on his journey. "I am thrilled to be here with my fellow astronauts--what a ride it was. Honestly, as I sat in the capsule 'Grace' on the launchpad yesterday after 30 days of quarantine, all I could think was: just go. When the launch finally happened, it was something else entirely. You're pushed back into the seat--and then suddenly, there's silence. You're just floating in the vacuum, and it's magical," Shukla said. He expressed gratitude to the mission team, calling the experience a "collective achievement." "I truly appreciate the efforts of every individual who made this journey possible. It's not just a personal accomplishment--it belongs to all of us," he said. The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft lifted off from NASA's Kennedy Space Centre at noon IST on Wednesday with Shukla, Whitson, Uznanski-Wisniewski, and Kapu onboard. The Ax-4 team will remain aboard the ISS for up to 14 days, engaging in science experiments, outreach, and commercial work. This marks Axiom Space's most research-intensive mission yet, with NASA and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) jointly conducting experiments on muscle regeneration, edible microalgae growth, survival of aquatic microorganisms, and human interaction with digital displays in microgravity.
Times of Oman
3 days ago
- Times of Oman
France congratulates India as Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla makes history with Axiom-4 Mission
New Delhi: The French Embassy in India on Wednesday congratulated the country on a historic achievement, as Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla embarked on a journey to the International Space Station as part of Axiom Mission 4. Group Captain Shukla, an Indian Air Force officer, is part of the international crew aboard Axiom Mission 4, launched earlier in the day. His journey marks a historic milestone for India, as he is now the second Indian to go to space. The embassy highlighted the collaboration between France and India on the Gaganyaan program, India's first human spaceflight mission. "Congratulations, India, as Gp Capt Shubhanshu Shukla becomes the first Indian to visit @ISS_Research, piloting the historic Axiom Mission 4!" the French Embassy stated. "France is collaborating on Gaganyaan, India's first human spaceflight program, by contributing to scientific and medical preparations." Earlier in the day, the Axiom Mission 4 launched aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Centre in Florida at 2:31 am Eastern Time (12 Noon IST). This is the fourth private astronaut mission to the International Space Station. The crew is travelling to the orbiting laboratory on a new SpaceX Dragon spacecraft. The targeted docking time is approximately 7 am Eastern Time (4 pm IST) on Thursday, June 26. Once docked, the astronauts plan to spend up to 14 days aboard the orbiting laboratory, conducting a mission comprised of science, outreach, and commercial activities. Peggy Whitson, former NASA astronaut and director of human spaceflight at Axiom Space, is in command of the mission, while Indian Space Research Organisation Astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla serves as pilot. The two mission specialists are European Space Agency project astronaut Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski of Poland and Tibor Kapu of Hungary. The astronauts are using the new Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit (AxEMU) spacesuit, which provides them with advanced capabilities for space exploration while providing NASA with commercially developed human systems needed to access, live and work on and around the Moon. The Ax-4 mission is going to be conducting major research. The research complement includes around 60 scientific studies and activities representing 31 countries, including the US, India, Poland, Hungary, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Nigeria, UAE, and nations across Europe.
