Axiom-4 Mission: Shubhanshu Shukla and Crew Successfully Dock with International Space Station
In a historic milestone for India’s space aspirations, the Axiom-4 mission, carrying Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla along with three international crew members, successfully docked with the International Space Station (ISS) shortly after 4 PM (IST).
The Crew Dragon spacecraft, launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, at 12:01 PM on Wednesday, completed its journey to the orbiting laboratory following several earlier delays due to technical concerns.
Upon reaching orbit, Shukla greeted Earth with a heartfelt “Namaskar”, sharing his sense of awe and humility from space. “I’m learning like a baby—how to walk, how to eat in space.
This is a small step, but a firm and determined stride toward India’s human space programme,” he said, highlighting the mission’s symbolic value for the nation’s future in space exploration.
The Union Cabinet formally welcomed the success of the mission, passing a resolution that acknowledged the significance of Shukla’s presence aboard the ISS.
“He carries with him the wishes, hopes, and aspirations of 1.4 billion Indians. We extend our best wishes to him and the entire crew for a successful mission,” the Cabinet noted.
The Axiom-4 mission had faced multiple delays before liftoff, primarily due to safety concerns, including pressure issues in the Zvezda module of the ISS.
The Zvezda leak, which was initially detected in 2019, has been a persistent technical challenge for international space agencies. Repairs and safety validations were completed just ahead of the mission’s launch window, clearing the way for the journey.
Now aboard the ISS, Shubhanshu Shukla joins an elite group of Indian astronauts to reach space and marks an important moment in India’s collaboration on commercial space missions.
His participation reflects not only India’s growing global presence in space science but also the steady progress towards India’s human spaceflight programme.
