Indian Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla to Fly to Space Station in May, Marking Historic Milestone for ISRO

New Delhi: In a defining moment for India's space ambitions, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is set to become the first Indian in over four decades to travel to space, with his mission to the International Space Station (ISS) scheduled for May.

Announcing the development, Union Minister for Space and Technology Dr. Jitendra Singh said, "India is poised to script a historic chapter in its space journey. With the ISS mission, Gaganyaan preparations, and a series of launches this summer, our space dreams are soaring higher than ever."

Group Captain Shukla, 40, is a decorated Indian Air Force test pilot and one of ISRO’s astronaut-designates for the Gaganyaan human spaceflight programme. He has spent the last eight months training with NASA and Axiom Space in preparation for the mission.

The mission will be launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Shukla will serve as the pilot on the Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission, flying alongside commander Peggy Whitson — a former NASA astronaut — ESA astronaut Slawosz Uznanski from Poland, and Hungarian mission specialist Tibor Kapu.

This marks the first time an Indian astronaut will visit the ISS and only the second instance of an Indian venturing into space, after Rakesh Sharma's historic flight aboard a Soviet spacecraft in 1984.

ISRO Chairman Dr. V. Narayanan confirmed Shukla’s readiness for the mission, describing it as a critical step forward for India’s spaceflight capabilities. His time on the ISS will offer invaluable insights into launch operations, microgravity adaptation, and in-orbit systems — experience that will directly contribute to the success of Gaganyaan and future crewed missions.

What sets this mission apart is not just its symbolism, but its strategic significance. It reflects India’s deepening collaboration with international partners and its intent to play a larger role in global space exploration.

“This isn’t just a flight,” said Minister Singh. “It’s a statement. India is stepping into a bold new era of human spaceflight.”