India is about to make space history once again. Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, a seasoned Indian Air Force pilot, is all set to become the first Indian to visit the International Space Station (ISS) as part of the Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4). The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) confirmed on Saturday that his mission, organized by US-based Axiom Space, is scheduled to launch on June 19, 2025.
The mission is a collaboration between Axiom Space, SpaceX, NASA, and global partners.
Shukla’s flight earlier scheduled to launch on June 11, after being deferred multiple time, was postponed due to technical observations related to the Zvezda module of the ISS.
The leak was detected in the propulsion bay during a pre-launch test.Another issue—a liquid oxygen leak in the Falcon 9 rocket (provided by SpaceX)—also came up during testing. Thankfully, both problems have now been resolved.
ISRO noted that Axiom Space has informed that they are working closely with NASA to assess the pressure anomaly in the Zvezda Service Module onboard the International Space Station.
According to ISRO, Axiom Space has worked closely with NASA and SpaceX to make sure everything is safe and ready to go. After thorough checks, the launch date has been officially moved to June 19.
“During a follow-on coordination meeting between ISRO, Axiom Space, and SpaceX, it was confirmed that the liquid oxygen leak observed in the Falcon 9 launch vehicle has been successfully resolved,” ISRO said in a statement.
“Axiom Space is now targeting June 19, 2025 for the launch of the Ax-04 mission,” it added.
Separately, Axiom Space informed that they are working closely with NASA to assess the pressure anomaly in the Zvezda Service Module onboard the International Space Station.
This mission is a huge moment for India. Shubhanshu Shukla will become only the second Indian ever to go to space, following Rakesh Sharma’s legendary flight in 1984.
On this journey, Shukla will serve as the pilot. The mission commander is Peggy Whitson from the United States—a veteran astronaut with multiple spaceflights under her belt. Two other astronauts—Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski from Poland and Tibor Kapu from Hungary—will also join them as mission specialists.
Once they arrive at the ISS, Shukla will take part in exciting scientific experiments related to space nutrition and food systems. In particular, he’ll study edible microalgae, which are tiny, nutrient-packed organisms that could one day help feed astronauts on long missions.
These experiments have been developed in a collaboration between ISRO, India’s Department of Biotechnology (DBT), and NASA , aim to enhance understanding of sustainable life-support systems, a crucial aspect of future long-duration space travel. Scientists want to see how these algae behave in space—how they grow, how their genes and proteins react, and how their nutritional value changes in microgravity compared to Earth. The results could help design better food systems for future space travelers.
This mission is more than just a trip to space—it’s a big step toward India’s growing role in international space exploration. And for young dreamers across the country, Shubhanshu Shukla’s journey shows that the stars really are within reach.
The research will also study the effects of microgravity and space radiation on edible microalgae — a nutrient-rich, high-potential food source for future space missions.
A Pilot with a Purpose
For Shubhanshu Shukla, this mission is more than just a scientific expedition—it’s the realization of a lifelong dream. Born in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, in 1985, Shukla grew up inspired by the courage of Indian soldiers during the Kargil War. That early spark led him to join the National Defence Academy in 2001. He was commissioned into the IAF in 2006 and went on to become a fighter pilot and test pilot, flying everything from MiG-21s to the Su-30MKI, logging over 2,000 hours in the sky.
He later earned a Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), and in 2019, he was selected for India’s Human Spaceflight Programme. Shukla trained in Russia at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center, followed by advanced astronaut training at ISRO’s facility in Bengaluru.
