All About Axiom Mission 4: Axiom Mission 4 (Axiom4) is a historic private spaceflight that was launched on June 25, 2025, by Axiom Space in collaboration with NASA and SpaceX. The mission is launched on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Florida's Kennedy Space Centre at 12:01 PM IST. It carried a crew of four to the International Space Station (ISS), including India's own Group Captain Subhanshu Shukla, who became the first Indian to board the ISS and the second Indian in space in history since Rakesh Sharma in 1984.

Shukla was born in Lucknow on October 10, 1985, and grew up with big dreams. After achieving success at City Montessori School and passing the NDA exam, he earned his B.Sc. in Computer Science from the NDA in 2005. It's amazing to think that he even skipped his sister's wedding to study. After joining the Indian Air Force in 2006, he obtained an M.Tech in Aerospace Engineering from IISc, Bengaluru, and accumulated 2,000 flight hours as a seasoned test pilot in cutting-edge aircraft. He is currently the lead astronaut for India's Gaganyaan program and an Ax-4 mission pilot after being chosen by ISRO in 2019 for astronaut training, which included training in Bengaluru and Russia.

What Is Axiom Mission 4 and Why Does It Matter

what is Axiom mission 4..

What is Axiom Mission 4 (Image: Axiom Space) 

Axiom Mission 4 (Ax‑4) is the fourth private astronaut mission to the International Space Station (ISS), carried out by Axiom Space in collaboration with NASA and SpaceX. The mission launched on June 25, 2025, at 12:01 PM IST in a Falcon 9 rocket from Florida's Kennedy Space Centre. This mission represents a significant turning point in commercial space travel. Under the direction of Commander Peggy Whitson, a four-person crew comprising astronauts from Poland, Hungary, the United States and India will spend two weeks on board the ISS carrying out about 60 scientific experiments from 31 different nations.

Who Is Shubhanshu Shukla (Often Called “Shubhu”)?

who is shubhanshu shukla his education early life and more

Who is Shubhanshu Shukla (Image: ANI) 

Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is lovingly referred to as "Shux”, is an ISRO astronaut and test pilot in the Indian Air Force. He was born in Lucknow on October 10, 1985, and finished his education there, earned a B.Sc. in computer science from the National Defence Academy in 2005, and trained at the Indian Air Force Academy before being commissioned in 2006. He has approximately 2,000 flight hours in high-performance aircraft, including the Jaguar, MiG-21, MiG-29, and Su-30.

ALSO READ: Shubhanshu Shukla Educational Journey: From Cracking UPSC NDA To IISc MTech, Now Axiom Mission 4 Group Captain Set For ISS Journey

Spaceship Education & Astronaut Training Journey

Shukla was shortlisted by ISRO in 2020 after joining the Indian Human Spaceflight Program in 2019. In 2021, he went to the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre in Russia and finished his basic training. After returning to India, he received additional training at ISRO's Bangalore facility and graduated from IISc, Bangalore, with an M.Tech in Aerospace Engineering. Shukla was named as the lead pilot when the Prime Minister announced India's astronaut team for the Gaganyaan mission in February 2024.

Shukla’s Role on Axiom 4

what is Axiom mission 4

Shubhanshu Shukla's role in Axiom 4 mission (Image: NASA) 

Shubhanshu Shukla will lead as pilot of the Ax-4 Crew Dragon spacecraft. He will carry out seven crucial experiments for India on the ISS during the mission. These projects examine the survival of tardigrades in space, screen-based stress testing, muscle regeneration, microalgae and plant growth (such as fenugreek and moong dal), and student-inspiring outreach initiatives. Additionally, he will be involved in five other NASA-led studies that will concentrate on life sciences and space agriculture.

A Giant Leap for India’s Space Future

After Rakesh Sharma's 1984 flight, Shukla is the second Indian in space and the first to visit the International Space Station. His private space flight provides India's upcoming Gaganyaan mission (scheduled for 2027) with invaluable real-world experience. According to ISRO experts, this mission provides crucial insights into docking, zero-g living, and spacecraft operations, making it an affordable means of closing the last gap in astronaut readiness.

 ALSO READ: Shubhanshu Shukla Lifts Off: Teary-Eyed Mother, Proud Father Celebrate Astronaut Son's Historic Space Launch | VIDEOS

A Moment of National Pride

From space, Shukla spoke to his fellow citizens while carrying the Indian flag, or Tiranga, saying, "Namaskar. Your pride should fill your chest. Let's start India's Human Space Program together. "Jai Hind!" This historic mission was celebrated by President Murmu, the Prime Minister, the Indian Air Force, and millions of people back home. They referred to it as a "déjà vu" of Rakesh Sharma's groundbreaking flight 41 years prior. Interestingly, Indian artist Manish Tripathi created Shukla's crew badge, a visual representation of India's identity in space, by fusing traditional and modern symbolism.

Axiom Mission 4 is a significant step toward India's goal of autonomous human spaceflight, not just a historic flight. Through innovative experiments and global collaboration, this mission gives our astronauts and India the means to achieve unprecedented space exploration.