FLORIDA / NEW DELHI – In a monumental achievement for India’s burgeoning space ambitions, Air Force Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla has officially become the first Indian to board the International Space Station (ISS). Shukla’s journey as part of the privately funded Axiom-4 mission culminated on Thursday, June 26, when the Crew Dragon spacecraft, named Grace, successfully docked with the ISS after a 28-hour transit from Florida’s Kennedy Space Center.
Live footage from the ISS captured the historic moment as Shukla, alongside American astronaut Peggy Whitson, Poland’s Slawoz Wisniewski, and Hungarian astronaut Tibor Kapu, were warmly greeted by the station’s existing seven-member crew. Grinning and exchanging hugs, the new arrivals floated into the vestibule, posing for photos and rehydrating from foil packets, a familiar sight in space travel.
The docking sequence, executed flawlessly by the Crew Dragon, involved intricate orbital maneuvers to precisely synchronize its speed and location with the orbiting laboratory. Mission control confirmed a “soft capture” at 4:01 p.m. India time, a flexible connection designed to absorb the kinetic energy of contact. A more secure “hard capture” followed minutes later, completing the docking at 4:15 p.m., with the hatch opening around 6:10 p.m. India time.
This mission transcends a personal milestone for Shukla, serving as a significant stride in India’s growing contributions to global space exploration. Launched by SpaceX’s Falcon 9 from the very pad that launched Apollo 11 to the Moon, Axiom-4 experienced six delays due to weather and technical issues before its successful liftoff on Wednesday, June 25, at 12:01 p.m. IST (2:31 a.m. EDT).
Now aboard the ISS, the four astronauts are slated to conduct 60 scientific experiments over a 14-day period. Notably, seven of these experiments were designed by Indian teams, encompassing research into microgravity’s effects on microscopic organisms like water bears, as well as projects in biomanufacturing and space medicine.
Reflecting on the launch while en route to the ISS, Shukla described the experience as surreal. “What a ride it was,” he shared. “After 30 days of quarantine and so many delays, I just wanted to go. And when it happened, it was something else entirely. You’re pushed back into your seat, and then suddenly… silence. You’re just floating. It’s magical.” He also acknowledged the extensive international collaboration, stating, “I truly appreciate the efforts of every individual who made this journey possible. This accomplishment belongs to all of us.”
Shukla’s remarkable achievement not only marks a proud moment for India but also opens new avenues for international cooperation and scientific innovation aboard the ISS, setting a precedent for future Indian human spaceflight endeavors. He is the second Indian to travel to orbit after Rakesh Sharma in 1984, but the first to visit the International Space Station. Sources
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