India celebrated a major moment in its space journey as Shubhanshu Shukla, an astronaut-in-training under the Gaganyaan program, launched into orbit aboard the Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4). The historic lift-off took place around 12:01 pm IST on Wednesday from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Liftoff of Ax-4! pic.twitter.com/RHiVFVdnz3
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) June 25, 2025
Shubhanshu Shukla Blasts Off with Ax-4
This mission is a big leap for India in global spaceflight, especially in the private sector.
Shubhanshu Shukla stands as a symbol of the new generation of Indian aerospace leaders making their mark worldwide.
The Ax-4 launch is a proud milestone for Axiom, NASA, and India. With Shubhanshu Shukla on board, it highlights India’s growing role in space.
Significant Milestone For India
“India marked a significant milestone in its space journey on Wednesday as Gaganyaan astronaut-in-training Shubhanshu Shukla launched into orbit as part of the Axiom-4 mission. The lift-off occurred at approximately 12:01 pm IST from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.”
The Ax-4 mission aims to advance commercial space travel. This, while also offering countries like India a pathway to send astronauts into space. This allows them to do so without depending solely on state-funded launches.
Right now, all eyes are on Shukla’s safety, the experiments aboard Ax-4, and the bigger picture—how this mission could open new doors for India’s role in global space partnerships.
