Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the 39-year-old Indian Air Force pilot, has made history as the first Indian to reach the International Space Station (ISS). Hours after his launch aboard the Axiom-4 mission, Shukla sent his first message from orbit, expressing awe at the experience.
“Wow, What a Ride!”
“Hello everyone, namaskar from space,” Shukla greeted. “When I was sitting in the capsule on the launchpad, the only thought in my mind was: let’s just go.” Describing the moment of lift-off, he said, “You’re pushed back into your seat, and then suddenly—nothing. You’re floating in vacuum.”
Adapting to Life in Orbit
Shukla admitted, “I wasn’t feeling very great when we got shot into the vacuum,” referring to the effects of microgravity. He humorously added, “I’ve been told I’m sleeping a lot since yesterday,” and said he’s currently “learning like a baby” to walk and eat in space.
A Global Moment of Pride
Shukla is accompanied by Commander Peggy Whitson, and mission specialists Tibor Kapu from Hungary and Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski from Poland. The launch was celebrated across India and abroad, with live watch parties in cities from Lucknow to Budapest and Houston.
Marking a Milestone
This mission makes Shukla the second Indian in space, after Rakesh Sharma in 1984, and the first Indian to travel to the ISS. Launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, the mission follows weeks of delays due to weather and technical checks.
With Shukla now in orbit, India takes a bold leap forward in human spaceflight—one that inspires a new generation of explorers.