Shubhanshu Shukla's Axiom-4 LIVE Updates: India's First Astronaut Lifts Off For Historic Trip To ISS

President Droupadi Murmu expressed pride in Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla’s participation in the Axiom Mission 4, calling it a proud moment for India. She praised the crew's diverse makeup and said the mission reflects global unity and scientific progress. Murmu noted that the space experiments conducted will open new avenues in science and deepen ISRO-NASA collaboration.,

As Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla creates a new milestone in space for India, the whole nation is excited and proud of an Indian’s journey into the stars. He and his fellow astronauts of Axiom Mission 4 from the US, Poland and Hungary prove the world is indeed one family –…, — President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) June 25, 2025

Asha Shukla, mother of IAF Group Captain and astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, shared, "Those were tears of joy; we’re thrilled." She added that every mother feels some worry when her child travels far, especially on a journey as distant as space.,

#WATCH | Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh: Asha Shukla, the mother of IAF Group Captain and astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, says, "Those were tears of joy. We are happy."#Axiom4 https://t.co/t8PBcT1Ydw pic.twitter.com/G7P6RDwmVr, — ANI (@ANI) June 25, 2025

Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the successful launch of the Axiom 4 mission and stated that Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is carrying the wishes, hopes and aspirations of 1.4 billion Indian citizens. PM Modi said that Group Captain Shukla will be the first Indian to go to the International Space Station and also lauded the astronauts from Hungary, Poland and the US. "We welcome the successful launch of the Space Mission carrying astronauts from India, Hungary, Poland and the US. The Indian Astronaut, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is on the way to become the first Indian to go to International Space Station. He carries with him the wishes, hopes and aspirations of 1.4 billion Indians. Wish him and other astronauts all the success!" PM Narendra Modi's 'X' post read.,

We welcome the successful launch of the Space Mission carrying astronauts from India, Hungary, Poland and the US.

The Indian Astronaut, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is on the way to become the first Indian to go to International Space Station. He carries with him the wishes,…, — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 25, 2025

After the Axiom 4 mission to the International Space Station successfully lifted off from NASA's Kennedy Space Centre in Florida, US, Union Minister Jitendra Singh on Wednesday extended his congratulations to the mission pilot Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla.

Taking to 'X', Jitendra Singh posted his congratulatory message for Shukla and mentioned that Indian space agency ISRO's growing collaborations are the result of reforms introduced by the Government of India headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"Congratulations Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla -- you are the first Indian Astronaut set to embark on a mission to the International Space Station. Indeed a proud moment for India! #ISRO's growing global collaborations, after the reforms introduced by the government headed by PM Narendra Modi, have placed India as a frontline nation in Space exploration", the 'X' post read.

Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla's Axiom 4 Space Mission has a cool launch day playlist with four songs, including AR Rahman's Yun Hi Chala Chal from Swades. First up is "Yun Hi Chala Chal Rahi" from the 2004 movie Swades, a happy song with words that inspire adventure, perfect for a trip to space. 

'Yuh Hi Chala Chal' is a popular song from the 2004 movie Swades. The song was composed by Oscar-winner AR Rahman, and the lyrics were penned by veteran lyricist Javed Akhtar.

The vocals of the song were given by Udit Narayan, Kailash Kher and Hariharan. It is a motivational track that encourages the movie's main character (SRK) to practice perseverance and follow one's own path. The song appears in a montage sequence where Shah Rukh Khan and actor Markand Deshpande travel through the Indian countryside.

As per the official synopsis, Swades is a movie about a NASA scientist who returns to his homeland to find the nanny who raised him, intending to bring her back to America. His journey leads him into the rural heart of India, to the village of Charanpur, and sets him on both an outward and inner quest to find where he truly belongs.

The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft has successfully separated from the Falcon 9 rocket's second stage, as confirmed by SpaceX. This separation is a critical milestone in the Axiom-4 mission, which is currently underway. The Dragon spacecraft is now flying autonomously, continuing its journey towards the International Space Station.,

Dragon has separated from Falcon 9’s second stage pic.twitter.com/YXIvBoSOn0, — SpaceX (@SpaceX) June 25, 2025

As he lifted off, Shubhanshu Shukla, in his first message from space, expressed joy for extraordinary ride, where he is moving at 7.5 km per second. "Namaskar, my dear countrymen! What a ride! We are back in the space once again after 41 years. It's an amazing ride. We are revolving around the Earth at a speed of 7.5 kilometres per second."

"The Tiranga embossed on my shoulders tells me that I am with all of you. This journey of mine is not a beginning to the International Space Station (ISS) but to India's Human Space Programme. I want all of you to be part of this journey. Your chest, too, should swell with pride...Together, let's initiate India's Human Space Programme. Jai Hind! Jai Bharat!," he added.

In Lucknow, AxiomMission4 pilot, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla's father, Shambhu Dayal Shukla, says, "It feels great. This was all God's blessings...",

#WATCH | In Lucknow, UP, #AxiomMission4 pilot, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla's father, Shambhu Dayal Shukla, says, "It feels great. This was all God's blessings..." pic.twitter.com/zbkQn80gFx, — ANI (@ANI) June 25, 2025

The four-member crew was carried aloft on a towering SpaceX launch vehicle consisting of a Crew Dragon capsule perched atop a two-stage Falcon 9 rocket. Live video showed the towering spacecraft streaking into the night sky over Florida's Atlantic coast trailed by a brilliant yellowish plume of fiery exhaust.,

Liftoff of Ax-4! pic.twitter.com/RHiVFVdnz3, — SpaceX (@SpaceX) June 25, 2025

Falcon 9 has successfully lifted off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, marking the launch of Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla’s historic Axiom-4 mission. 

T-35 minutes until liftoff. Propellant load of Falcon 9 is underway and Dragon’s escape system is armed: SpaceX.

Joy, pride, and excitement swept through Uttar Pradesh's Lucknow as Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla prepares to make history with the Axiom-4 mission, set to launch from NASA's Kennedy Space Centre in Florida on Wednesday.

The Indian Air Force Group Captain, hailing from Uttar Pradesh's Lucknow, is heading to the International Space Station (ISS) as part of the Axiom-4 Mission.

Shukla's father, Shambhu Dayal, expressed that his son's achievement brings pride not only to Lucknow but also to the entire nation.

"...His mission is set to launch around 12 noon IST. We are very eager to see his mission launch. We are delighted. Our blessings are with him, and we also pray to God for his mission to be completed well... He is fully prepared... It feels great to see all the posters that have been put up for him... He is bringing laurels to Lucknow, the state and our country... We are proud of him," Shambhu Sayal said.

During the 14-day stay at the ISS, the Ax-4 crew is expected to interact with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, school students, and space industry leaders, among others.

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According to the information posted on Axiom Space, an American privately funded space infrastructure developer, Shukla, a distinguished pilot in the Indian Air Force (IAF), has been handpicked as one of the four astronauts for the Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) historic Gaganyaan mission—the nation’s inaugural human space flight endeavour.

Born on October 10, 1985, in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India, Shukla's journey began when he was commissioned into the IAF fighter wing in June 2006. As a combat leader and seasoned test pilot, he boasts an impressive 2,000 hours of flight experience across various aircraft, including the Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, MiG-29, Jaguar, Hawk, Dornier, and An-32. His ascent to the rank of group captain in March 2024 reflects his exceptional contributions.

Astronauts quarantine before launch to make sure they’re healthy and don’t carry any infections to space. This is important because the ISS is a closed space, and any illness could affect both the new and current crew.Also, astronauts' immune systems get weaker in space, so it's easier for them to get sick.

Dragon’s hatch is closed, all communication and suit checks are complete, the seats are rotated, and the Ax-4 crew is ready for launch!

Crop Seeds on ISS

This ISRO experiment will investigate the impacts of spaceflight on six varieties of crop seeds. After the mission, seeds will be grown for multiple generations and plants showing preferred traits selected for genetic analyses. This project aims to help understand how crops may be grown in space for future exploration missions.

Cyanobacteria on ISS

Cyanobacteria are aquatic bacteria that can photosynthesize, and are of interest for integration into spacecraft environmental control systems. This ISRO experiment will compare two strains of cyanobacteria to investigate growth rates, cellular responses, and biochemical activity in microgravity. The results could help with the development of future spacecraft life support systems.

Meet the Axiom-4 crew going to space with India's Shubhanshu Shukla,

Meet the crew flying on Dragon for @Axiom_Space’s fourth mission to the @Space_Station → https://t.co/JoT0daagtL pic.twitter.com/eNGk0XPiJE, — SpaceX (@SpaceX) June 25, 2025

The Axiom-4 mission has run into multiple delays, first on account of inclement weather and then due to leaks detected on SpaceX's Falcon-9 rocket and later on the Russian module of the International Space Station.

The launch opportunity comes after NASA and Roscosmos officials discussed the status of the recent repair work in the transfer tunnel at the aft (back) most segment of the orbital laboratory's Zvezda service module, NASA said.

Space fans can catch the historic launch live on platforms like SpaceX’s official YouTube, X (Twitter) pages of SpaceX, Axiom-4, and NASA.

The Ax-4 mission is set to launch from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, Florida, at 2:31 a.m. EDT (12:01 p.m. IST) on Wednesday, June 25, 2025.