Shubhanshu Shukla, an officer in the Indian Air Force (IAF) and an ISRO astronaut, has been selected as the pilot for Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4), a private spaceflight set to launch to the International Space Station (ISS) in spring 2025. This marks a significant milestone as Shukla becomes the first Indian astronaut to participate in a private mission to the ISS.
NASA announced Shukla’s selection on Thursday, revealing that the mission will launch from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft. This private mission is part of Axiom Space’s ongoing effort to expand access to space for non-government astronauts.
Shubhanshu Shukla is not new to space exploration. As a serving IAF officer, he is also involved in India’s ambitious Gaganyaan programme, which aims to send Indian astronauts into space. The Ax-4 mission will be commanded by Peggy Whitson, a former NASA astronaut who now serves as Axiom Space’s Director of Human Spaceflight. Alongside Shukla, two other mission specialists will join the mission: Sławosz Uznanski-Wisniewski from Poland, a European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut, and Tibor Kapu from Hungary.
NASA’s ISS Programme Manager, Dana Weigel, expressed her excitement about the role of private astronaut missions in expanding low Earth orbit exploration. She highlighted that these missions not only advance space exploration but also help make the microgravity environment aboard the ISS more accessible.
“I am excited to see continued interest and dedication toward private astronaut missions aboard the International Space Station,” Weigel said. “As NASA looks toward the future of low Earth orbit, private astronaut missions help pave the way and expand access to the unique microgravity environment.”
Axiom Space has already conducted three private missions to the ISS, with Ax-1 in April 2022, Ax-2 in May 2023, and Ax-3 in January 2024. Each mission has helped open new frontiers in commercial space travel, with Ax-3 spending 18 days docked at the ISS.
Peggy Whitson, the Ax-4 mission commander, praised the dedication of the crew, stating that their commitment to space exploration would help create new opportunities for their respective countries. Whitson emphasized the importance of these private missions in pushing the boundaries of space exploration.
In related news, NASA confirmed it is working closely with SpaceX to ensure the safe return of astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, who have been stranded aboard the ISS for 238 days. This comes after Elon Musk revealed that former US President Donald Trump had urged him to expedite their return to Earth.
Shubhanshu Shukla’s selection for the Ax-4 mission is a proud moment for India and demonstrates the growing role of private spaceflight in expanding humanity’s reach into space. The upcoming mission is expected to continue advancing scientific research and strengthen international cooperation in space exploration.
