International space mission carrying Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla to fly in May: Centre

NEW DELHI: India is set to make history in space exploration once again, as Indian Air Force Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla will fly to the International Space Station (ISS) in May 2025. The Centre confirmed his selection for the Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4), a NASA-approved private spaceflight organised by Axiom Space. Shukla will be the second Indian to travel to space, four decades after Rakesh Sharma's iconic 1984 mission.
Minister of state for space Dr Jitendra Singh described the mission as a defining moment for India’s space journey, following a high-level review of ISRO’s upcoming projects. Shukla’s role also aligns with India’s larger ambitions under the Gaganyaan programme, the country’s first human spaceflight mission.
Shukla will serve as pilot on the Ax-4 mission alongside former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, who will lead the crew. Other members include Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski of Poland and Tibor Kapu of Hungary. The team will launch from Florida aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft and spend up to 14 days on the ISS conducting scientific research and outreach.
Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair has been named as Shukla’s backup. The mission is a significant step in the growing collaboration between ISRO, NASA, and private space ventures.