Indian Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla Completes Training For Axiom-4 Mission To ISS

In a big achievement for India’s space initiatives, Indian Air Force Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla has successfully completed his astronaut training with Spacex, paving the way for his upcoming journey to the International Space Station (ISS) as part of Axiom Mission 4 (Ax 4), India Today reported.

Shukla, who will serve as the mission’s pilot, underwent months of rigorous training across Russia, India, and the United States.

His preparation included advanced simulations at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Moscow, survival and operational training at the Astronaut Training Facility in Bangalore, and extensive hands-on sessions at SpaceX headquarters in California

According to an Indian Express report, Shukla, a decorated test pilot with over 2,000 hours of flying experience across aircraft such as the Su 30 MKI, MiG 21, and Jaguar, was selected in 2019 as one of the four astronaut candidates for India’s Gaganyaan human spaceflight program

As part of his SpaceX training, Shukla was fitted for the company’s state-of-the-art pressure suit and practised critical launch, docking, and emergency procedures aboard the mock Crew Dragon spacecraft.

He also participated in zero-gravity simulations and learned to operate the spacecraft’s advanced systems alongside his international crewmates.

The Ax-4 mission, scheduled for launch on 29 May 2025, will see Shukla become the first Indian astronaut to visit the ISS and only the second Indian to travel to space after Rakesh Sharma’s historic flight in 1984.

Veteran NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson and astronauts from Poland and Hungary will command the mission.

During their two-week stay, the crew will conduct over 60 scientific experiments, including several designed by Indian researchers. Shukla’s participation marks a significant milestone for India’s collaboration in global space exploration and is expected to inspire a new generation of Indian scientists and engineers.

“The outcomes of these experiments will advance our understanding of crew nutrition, cognitive performance, and sustainable life support systems. They will also strengthen our preparedness for conducting microgravity experiments aboard the upcoming Indian space station,” Tushar Phadnis, Group Head for Microgravity Platforms and Research at ISRO, was quoted as saying by India Today.

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