NEW DELHI: In a historic space milestone, India is set to send an astronaut to the International Space Station (ISS) for the first time ever, marking the country’s return to human spaceflight after more than four decades.
The announcement was made on Friday by Jitendra Singh, Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, who oversees the Department of Space. He confirmed that Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla of the Indian Air Force will travel to the ISS next month, as part of Axiom Space’s Ax-4 mission.
This mission will make Shukla the first Indian astronaut to visit the ISS and only the second Indian to travel to space, following Rakesh Sharma’s 1984 Soviet mission aboard Soyuz T-11.
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) revealed that Shukla has completed extensive training and is fully prepared for the mission. His upcoming spaceflight highlights India’s growing presence in international space partnerships and technology.
“This will be India’s first human space presence in low Earth orbit since 1984, and a proud moment for the country’s scientific community,” said an official from the Department of Space.
The Ax-4 mission, operated by US-based Axiom Space, will include astronauts from various countries, reinforcing international cooperation in space exploration. India’s participation is seen as a key step in future collaborations, including long-term plans for independent crewed missions under the Gaganyaan programme.
While Gaganyaan is still under development, this mission gives India a significant opportunity to showcase its astronauts’ readiness on a global platform.
With Shukla’s launch expected in May 2025, India’s space ambitions are once again reaching for the stars—this time, in company with the world.
