Shubhanshu Shukla Makes History As First Indian Astronaut On International Space Station

Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla has made history as the first Indian astronaut on board the International Space Station (ISS) today (26 June).

The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft carrying Shukla and his international crewmates docked autonomously with the ISS’s Harmony module at around 4.00 pm IST on 26 June, following its flawless launch on 25 June from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center aboard a Falcon-9 rocket, according to Axiom's website.

Shukla, the mission’s designated pilot, is part of the Axiom-4 crew that includes Commander Peggy Whitson (USA) and mission specialists Sławosz Uznański‑Wiśniewski (Poland) and Tibor Kapu (Hungary).

The docking marks the formal commencement of their 14-day mission aboard the orbiting laboratory.

Around two hours after docking, the crew was welcomed by the Expedition members already on board the ISS, in a brief but symbolic ceremony.

Shukla’s role as pilot had him overseeing the spacecraft’s trajectory, monitoring orbital parameters, and ensuring alignment with the ISS during the final approach.

Over the next two weeks, the Axiom-4 team will carry out a packed research agenda involving nearly 60 experiments contributed by over 30 countries.

Shukla will lead at least seven investigations, including joint studies by ISRO and NASA.

His work will include projects such as Space Microalgae, Voyager Tardigrades, Bone Health Monitoring, and ISRO-supported research into crop seed viability and cyanobacteria behaviour in microgravity.

These studies are expected to yield valuable insights into space biology, human health, and life-support systems, critical for long-duration missions in deep space.

The mission also marks a leap forward in India's growing involvement in international space collaboration.

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