Thursday, 26 June, 2025

India’s Shubhanshu Shukla Splits Sky and History as Axiom-4’s Second Indian in Space

Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla—an IAF fighter pilot and test pilot—launched aboard SpaceX’s Dragon for Axiom Mission 4 on June 25, becoming India’s second astronaut after Rakesh Sharma in 1984. The four-member crew, led by Peggy Whitson, will spend 14 days aboard the ISS conducting over 60 international experiments. The mission is a stepping stone for India’s Gaganyaan program, offering critical human spaceflight experience and boosting national space ambitions.