Shubhanshu Shukla Axiom-4 Mission: As the Axiom-4 mission rose from the Kennedy Space Center in NASA in Florida, it marked a proud and emotional milestone-only in global space exploration, but also thousands of kilometers away in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh for a family.
Group captain Shubhinhu Shukla, an Indian Air Force officer and pilot of the mission, is leading India’s return to space after more than four decades. Seeing the launch, his mother Asha Shukla was taken into tears. “Everyone is happy. These are tears of happiness,” he said.
#Watch Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh: IAF group captain and astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, Asha Shukla, becomes emotional because she cheers for her son, which is part of which is part of #Axiommission4 pic.twitter.com/62ki2j3hru
– Annie (@ani) June 25, 2025
His father, Shambu Dayal Shukla said, “It looks great. It was all the blessings of God.”
#Watch Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh: IAF group captain’s mother and astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, Asha Shukla, says, “They were tears of happiness. We are happy.”#Axiom4 https://t.co/t8pbct1ydw pic.twitter.com/g7p6rdwmvr
– Annie (@ani) June 25, 2025
‘What a Ride’: Shubhanshu Shukla’s message Entrout Space
Speaking of riding in a dragon spacecraft, Shukla shared a heartfelt message to her countrymen. “Namaskar, my dear country, what is a ride. We are back to space once again after 41 years. This is a wonderful ride. We are moving around the earth at a speed of 7.5 kilometers per second. Embosked on my shoulders, I am not a beginning for all.
A few hours before the spacecraft flew, Shukla took him on Instagram to thank those who supported him through his journey. However, the attention of the Internet was most caught A small note dedicated to his wifeHe wrote, “Specifically thanks to the comfort that you are a wonderful partner. Without you, none of it was possible, but more importantly, none of it matters.”
Shukla now runs on the footsteps of Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma, who rode on the Soviet Soviet T -11 mission in 1984 and flew into space. Sharma spent seven days at the saluting 7 space station- so far, the only Indian to enter Indian space.
What is Axiom-4 mission?
A new SpaceX dragon spacecraft has a collaboration for the International Space Station (ISS) between the Axiom-4 Mission National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and SpaceX.
Docking has been targeted for 4 pm on 26 June. The crew is expected to spend up to 14 days in scientific research, commercial activities and operation of outreach.
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Pagi Whiteson, former NASA’s former astronaut and director of the Human Spaceflight of Exiom, commands the mission. Group captain Shubanshu Shukla serves as a pilot, with Poland’s Slavos Uznansky-Viznivski and Mission experts with Tibor Kapu of Hungary.
Astronauts are equipped with the new AXEMU spacesuts of Axiom, designed to increase space exploration capacity, supporting NASA’s lunar goals. The suits are designed for high performance and adaptability in a wide range of crew members.
AX-4 is the most intensive mission of Axiom Space so far. The crew will conduct around 60 scientific studies representing 31 countries, including India, America, Poland, Hungary, UAE, Brazil, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria and several European nations.
NASA and ISRO jointly include muscle regeneration, increase of microalgies, flexibility of aquatic organisms, and experiments to interact with electronic displays in human microgravity.
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The Axiom space is constantly expanding its private astronaut missions. AX-1 was launched in April 2022, followed by AX-2 May 2023, and AX-3 on January 2024. Each mission has advanced the scope of private human spacecraft.
Rakesh Sharma (T) X -4 Scientific Research (T) Excimu Spacesuts (T) India NASA Space Mission (T) Group Captain Shukla Space Journey
