How India Joined Axiom-4: The Road to ISS
- TPP
- Jul 14
- 4 min read
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla’s Historic ISS Journey Marks a New Era in India’s Space Ambitions
India’s space exploration journey took a giant leap as Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla became the first Indian to visit the International Space Station (ISS), nearly four decades after Rakesh Sharma’s iconic space mission in 1984. Shukla flew as part of the multinational Axiom-4 mission, marking a significant milestone in India’s growing collaboration with the United States in space exploration.
Return to Earth: The Journey Back
Group Captain Shukla and three international crew members are set to begin their return journey from the ISS today, July 14, 2025, at 4:35 PM IST (7:05 AM EDT), when the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft undocks from the Harmony module of the ISS. Their splashdown is scheduled for 3 PM IST on July 15, off the coast of California, USA, with a one-hour timing margin.
Upon landing, Shukla and his fellow astronauts will undergo a seven-day rehabilitation programme under the supervision of Flight Surgeons (specialist doctors trained to help astronauts re-adapt to Earth's gravity after long durations in microgravity environments).
The Mission: Axiom-4 and India's Participation
The Axiom-4 mission, operated by Axiom Space, launched on June 26, 2025, aboard SpaceX Falcon 9 from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The crew consisted of:
Peggy Whitson (US, Commander and veteran astronaut),
Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski (Poland),
Tibor Kapu (Hungary),
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla (India).
Axiom Space is a private US company collaborating with NASA to send commercial crewed missions to the ISS as part of NASA’s effort to encourage private-sector space capabilities while the agency focuses on science and deep-space exploration.
The theme of Axiom-4 was "Realize the Return", bringing astronauts from countries that had last sent a human to space over 40 years ago — India (1984), Hungary (1978), and Poland (1980).
Science on Board: Experiments Conducted by Shukla
During his 14-day stay aboard the ISS, Shukla conducted seven India-specific scientific experiments. One of the most critical experiments focused on:
Microalgae Research: Studying space microalgae to assess their potential for producing food, oxygen, and biofuels in space — essential for long-duration missions like Mars expeditions.
Centrifugation of Cyanobacteria: Comparing two strains of these photosynthetic microorganisms to understand how microgravity affects their growth, cellular functions, and biochemical behaviour.
These experiments could pave the way for sustainable life-support systems in future deep space missions.
How India Joined Axiom-4: The Road to ISS
In June 2023, during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s state visit to Washington, India and the US announced a strategic framework for human spaceflight cooperation. The key outcomes included:
A decision to send an Indian astronaut to the ISS by 2024, jointly facilitated by ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) and NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration).
This move was unexpected, as India’s human spaceflight ambitions were previously centered on ISRO’s Gaganyaan mission, originally scheduled for 2022. While delayed, Gaganyaan had already selected astronauts and begun testing systems.
This new arrangement provided a real-world spaceflight opportunity for India, helping gain hands-on experience ahead of Gaganyaan’s eventual launch.
Growing Indo-US Space Partnership
India and the US have been deepening space cooperation for years, notably through:
NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar): A joint Earth-observation satellite set for launch from Sriharikota.
Signing of the Artemis Accords in 2023: A set of US-led principles for responsible and peaceful space exploration, particularly targeting lunar and planetary missions.
Following this, Axiom Space extended an invitation to India to participate in Axiom-4, making it the first tangible result of this strengthened space alliance.
Global Context: Human Spaceflight Landscape
So far, only three countries — the United States, Russia, and China — have independently developed human spaceflight capabilities. India’s involvement in the Axiom-4 mission signals its serious commitment to joining this elite group.
While Rakesh Sharma's 1984 flight was aboard a Soviet Soyuz craft, Shukla's mission marks a modern and collaborative foray into human spaceflight, made possible through public-private and international cooperation.
Farewell from Space: A Message of Pride
In his emotional farewell address from the ISS, Group Captain Shukla reflected:
“41 years ago, an Indian came to space and told us how India looks from up above. Today’s India looks ambitious, fearless, confident, full of pride… Today’s India still looks ‘saare jahan se acha’.”
He concluded by expressing hope:
“Our journey ahead into space exploration may be long and arduous, but it has begun.”
What Lies Ahead?
As Shubhanshu Shukla prepares to return to Earth, his journey is more than a personal triumph — it represents the dawn of India’s human spaceflight era. The experience gained through Axiom-4 will be invaluable in shaping ISRO’s Gaganyaan programme, advancing scientific research in space biology, and strengthening India’s position in the global space ecosystem.
The success of this mission underscores a powerful message: India is ready — not just to observe the stars, but to be among them.
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