India is poised to send its first Indian national astronaut to the International Space Station, marking a historic leap in its space ambitions. On June 11, 2025, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla will launch aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 Crew Dragon, under Axiom Mission 4 (Ax‑4). At 39, this IAF test pilot becomes only the second Indian in space and the first to reach the ISS.

The four-person crew—commanded by veteran NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, including Poland’s Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski and Hungary’s Tibor Kapu—will conduct around 60 scientific experiments over approximately 14 days. Indian-led studies include microgravity research on muscle regeneration, sprout growth (green gram and moong beans), microalgae as potential space superfood, tardigrade survival, and tech-human interaction—essential for future deep-space missions and the upcoming Gaganyaan programme.

A seasoned IAF test pilot with over 2,000 flight hours, Shukla trained at Russia’s Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center and India’s Bengaluru centre, and is a strong contender for Gaganyaan 2027 and even a 2040 lunar mission.

Originally slated for June 10, the launch was pushed to June 11 due to weather delays. Shukla views this mission as "the journey of 1.4 billion people," aiming to inspire future generations.

This landmark mission is a strategic milestone in India’s growing collaboration with global space agencies and a critical precursor to its independent human spaceflight ambitions.