Indian Air Force Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is currently on the International Space Station (ISS) as part of the Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission, getting accustomed to the specific demands of living in microgravity. With 16 sunrises and 16 sunsets daily, Shukla orbits the planet, settling into his short-term space home and getting down to work.
During his first day on board, Shubhanshu Shukla transferred cargo from the Grace capsule (Dragon) to the ISS, set up his habitation space, and interacted with Space-11—the term used for the eleven-member combined crew on board. Reports say he is doing well and actively participating in routine operations.
Astronaut Peggy Whitson, who is also part of the Ax-4 crew, shared a stunning view of Earth from space on X, writing, “I’ve missed the view.”
I’ve missed this view! #Ax4 pic.twitter.com/BEj1rSE7Yc
— Peggy Whitson (@AstroPeggy) June 27, 2025
Training, Safety, and Scientific Readiness
According to Axiom Space, the crew quickly began adjusting to life in zero gravity, focusing on integration with the Expedition 73 team. The combined crew undertook handover training, emergency procedure reviews, and safety briefings to ensure coordination and preparedness.
As part of their initial tasks, the Ax-4 crew loaded high-priority payloads, critical resources, and safety equipment from Dragon to the ISS. Moreover, NASA reported that the crew offloaded hardware loaded with experimental samples and portable science freezers and installed them into station incubators and research refrigerators.
In addition, the astronauts initiated preparation for their science research and technology demonstrations, offloading early samples and installing experiments throughout different modules.
Teamwork in Orbit
The ISS currently has eleven astronauts onboard, making up what the crew has coined “Space-11.” The Axiom private astronauts and NASA’s Expedition 73 crew members continue to collaborate on cargo operations, life support system inspections, and daily scientific research. The partnership is a smooth integration of private and public space exploration.
Shukla and the other astronauts will continue installing research equipment, conducting space health experiments, and supporting the ISS as they adapt to their new, weightless environment.
