On June 25, 2025, history was made as Group Captain Subhanshu Shukla launched aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon for the private Axiom Mission 4 (Ax‑4), marking India’s return to human spaceflight after 41 years—and the first ever Indian voyage to the International Space Station (ISS). The moment became unforgettable when Shukla opened his first live broadcast from orbit with a heartfelt “Namaskar from space!”, blending humility, national pride, and our rich cultural heritage.
A Mission Years in the Making
Originally scheduled for June 10, the mission experienced multiple delays—including a Falcon 9 LOX leak and an ISS module issue—before finally lifting off from Kennedy Space Center’s LC‑39A on June 25 at 12:01 PM IST (6:31 UTC). The Crew Dragon capsule “Grace” docked with the ISS on June 26 at 4:30 PM IST (11:00 UTC).
Who Is Subhanshu Shukla?
- Born: October 10, 1985, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
- Education: BSc in Computer Science (NDA, 2005), MTech in Aerospace Engineering (IISc, Bengaluru)
- IAF Career: Commissioned in June 2006; over 2,000 flight hours on aircraft like Su‑30 MKI, MiG‑29, Jaguar, Hawk
- Gaganyaan Astronaut: Named in Feb 2024 by PM Modi, trained in Russia for India’s human-spaceflight program
- Milestone: Second Indian in space, first to reach ISS—after Rakesh Sharma’s 1984 Soyuz flight
Shukla’s wife, Kamna Mishra—a dentist—and their son watched on Earth proudly. He hails from a close-knit family of five, the youngest of three siblings.
“Namaskar from Space!” — A Cultural Moment
From the moment of docking, Shukla’s greeting soared across headlines: “Learning like a baby… how to walk and eat in space… this is a small step… toward India’s human‑space programme.”
He went on to say:
“Namaskar from space! I am thrilled to be here with my fellow astronauts. What a ride it was.”
Indeed, the image of an Indian astronaut floating above Earth and offering a traditional namaskar captured global attention and ignited deep national pride. The Cabinet unanimously passed a resolution wishing Shukla success “on behalf of 1.4 billion Indians”.
Axiom-4 Mission: Science, Collaboration & Symbolism
- Crew Commander: Peggy Whitson, former NASA astronaut, now Axiom’s Director of Human Spaceflight
- Fellow Crew: Sławosz Uznański‑Wiśniewski (Poland), Tibor Kapu (Hungary) — both making their countries’ first ISS visits in over 40 years
- Mission Profile: A 14‑day stay packed with ~60 research projects—from microgravity biology and diabetes studies to materials and AI—benefiting collaborators in over 30 countries
- Indian Experiments: Studies on microalgae, crop resilience, cognitive effects via screens, muscle atrophy, microbial adaptation—led by ISRO, DBT and Indian universities
A Springboard for Gaganyaan
Ax‑4 serves as more than a mission: it’s a testing ground for India’s Gaganyaan human-spaceflight program. Deploying advanced human-support systems in real space conditions, Shukla’s experiences—and those of the Indian experiments—are invaluable for India’s planned first crewed orbital flight in 2027 aboard the Gaganyaan spacecraft.
Global and National Impact
- Commercial Space Leadership: Axiom‑4 marks the commercial era of space, involving privately-operated missions to the ISS.
- Diplomatic Unity: Crews from different nations working in concert illustrate how human spaceflight fosters peaceful scientific camaraderie.
- Nationwide Inspiration: Indian institutions—from the NDA and IAF to ISRO—are rallying around Shukla’s daring mission, echoing Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma’s legacy.
Into the Future: What Lies Ahead
Over the coming weeks, Shukla and his crewmates will advance key scientific studies—including monitoring glucose levels in microgravity, which could inform diabetes research here on Earth. The mission culminates with a splashdown off California’s coast, returning invaluable data and inspiration.
For India, this mission marks a paradigm shift from satellite launches to routine human spaceflight. With ambitions for an Indian orbital space station in the 2030s, Subhanshu Shukla’s journey is both a symbolic and pragmatic springboard .
Final Thoughts
“Namaskar from space” wasn’t just a greeting—it was India’s voice in the cosmos, a blend of tradition and technological ambition. As Shukla soars above Earth, he carries our shared dreams—of unity, exploration, and peaceful scientific progress.
His message is clear: India is reaching beyond, and this is merely the beginning.
