Sudhanshu Shukla: First Indian to Pilot Axiom 4 Mission

Sudhanshu Shukla became the first Indian astronaut to visit the ISS on Axiom 4, marking India’s return to spaceflight after 41 years.

• Important for Prelims & Current Affairs
• Relevant for GS Paper 3 (Space & Technology).
• Essay topics related to science and technology.
• Interview – India’s Space Diplomacy

The Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) is a private spaceflight mission that was successfully launched on June 25, 2025, from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. This mission, led by Axiom Space with NASA and SpaceX, sent Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla to the ISS, making him the second Indian in space after Captain Rakesh Sharma’s 1984 flight.

The return journey from the ISS required careful coordination and precise execution.

• On July 14, 2025, the Dragon spacecraft "Grace" undocked from the ISS at 4:45 PM IST, beginning a 22-hour journey back to Earth.
• During the descent, the Dragon's trunk was jettisoned, and the capsule performed a deorbit burn to enter Earth's atmosphere.
• The final descent was controlled by a sophisticated parachute system, with two drogue chutes opening first, followed by four main parachutes.
• The capsule successfully splashed down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California at 3:01 PM IST on July 15, 2025.

Moving on, let us now examine the key details of Axiom Mission 4.

• Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) is the fourth private crew mission to the International Space Station (ISS) by Axiom Space.
• The mission will ride a SpaceX Falcon 9 Block 5 rocket to put the Crew Dragon  Grace (C213) spacecraft into low Earth orbit.
• This is the first flight of the C213 spacecraft, which is the fifth and final Crew Dragon to be produced by SpaceX.
• The astronauts spent about 18 days on the ISS performing scientific research and technology demonstrations.

• The four-person international crew was led by Commander Peggy Whitson, a veteran astronaut and former NASA administrator, and Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla served as the mission pilot.
   

  

The Axiom-4 mission pursued multiple ambitious objectives that reflect the evolving landscape of space exploration.

• Scientific Research: Conducted around 60 scientific experiments and activities in microgravity, from 31 nations, including the US, India, Poland, Hungary, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Nigeria, UAE, and those in Europe.
• International Collaboration: Enhance international cooperation in space exploration through the inclusion of astronauts from four different countries.
• Commercial Space Development: Partner Axiom Space's long-term mission of developing and operating the first commercial space station upon the decommissioning of ISS.
• Technology Demonstration: Experiment with novel tools, hardware, and software that will one day be used in space.
• Educational Outreach: Educate and engage students and teachers around the globe with real-time learning and modules from space.

• Falcon 9 Block 5: The mission will utilize SpaceX's reusable Falcon 9 rocket, which is capable of returning for a vertical landing once it has deployed the spacecraft to orbit.
• Crew Dragon Grace (C213): The fifth and last Dragon capsule in SpaceX's fleet, with enhanced storage compartments and upgraded propulsion systems for improved reliability and reusability
• Advanced Safety Features: The Spacecraft boasts advanced life support systems, auto-docking ability, and emergency abort systems for crew safety.
• Cutting-Edge design: The interior of the Crew Dragon contains touchscreen panels, spacious seating, and state-of-the-art amenities for the crew on their flight.

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The mission holds profound strategic importance for India's space ambitions and international standing.

• Indian Air Force Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla was the pilot on Axiom Mission 4, becoming the second Indian to cross the Karman line.
• He was selected from among the four astronauts undergoing training for Gaganyaan, India’s first human spaceflight mission.
• He completed intensive training at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Moscow, Russia, before being assigned to the Ax-4 mission.

• In collaboration with the Axiom-4 mission, ISRO is enabling Mr. Sudhanshu Shukla to conduct Indian-developed scientific experiments and research onboard the International Space Station.
• ISRO is working closely with Axiom Space, NASA, and SpaceX to promote safety, mission success, and technical collaboration for Ax-4.
• The mission had seven microgravity research experiments as suggested by various national R&D laboratories and academic institutions across India.

Axiom Mission 4 included Indian-led experiments focused on biology and space farming, exploring how microgravity impacts life and food systems.

• Space Microalgae: Investigating the effects of microgravity and radiation on food-grade microalgae..
• Myogenesis: Investigating the impact of metabolic supplements on muscle regeneration in microgravity..
• Sprouts: Studying the sprouting of salad seeds in space and their applicability to crew nutrition.
• Voyager Tardigrade: Investigating the survival, revival, reproduction, and transcriptome of the eutardigrade Paramacrobiotus sp. BLR strain in space.
• Cyanobacteria in Microgravity: Comparing growth and proteomics responses of cyanobacteria on urea and nitrate in microgravity.
• Food Crop Seeds in Microgravity: Studying the effects of microgravity on growth and yield parameters in food crop seeds.

Axiom-4 marks a crucial step in strengthening India’s capabilities for upcoming space missions.

• Ax-4 offers valuable spaceflight experience for Indian astronauts before the Gaganyaan mission, India's first homegrown human spaceflight program, expected to launch in 2026.
• The partnership offers India access to SpaceX Crew Dragon technology and NASA operational practices, which can be used to inform ISRO spacecraft development.
• The mission enables Indian researchers to see firsthand how experiments are executed in the microgravity environment of the ISS.
• The experience acquired from Ax-4 will feed into India's plans for its space station, the Bharatiya Antariksh Station, which is scheduled after the successful launch of the Gaganyaan mission.
• ISRO will acquire valuable experience in space station operation, maintenance, and scientific research capability to be scaled up for use in its space station.

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India's journey in human spaceflight has only just begun. The experiences and partnerships gained through Axiom-4 will help accelerate India’s missions and inspire a new generation.

As Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla said after his return: “Our journey is still very long. But I assure you, if we decide, even the stars are attainable.”

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