In an exciting breaking news development, the Dragon capsule of the Axiom 4 mission, carrying Indian astronaut Shobhanshu Shukla and three other astronauts, successfully docked with the International Space Station (ISS) at 4:30 pm IST on Thursday. The mission is a major step forward for private space travel and a significant moment in India’s space history.
Shukla and the team took off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Wednesday. They traveled in SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft, powered by a Falcon 9 rocket. The spacecraft completed its journey to the ISS in about 28 hours and docked with the station, orbiting 400 km (250 miles) above Earth.
Key Highlights from the Mission
- Shubhanshu Shukla Makes History
Shubhanshu Shukla has become only the second Indian to travel to space after Rakesh Sharma, who flew aboard the Soviet Union’s Salyut-7 station in 1984. However, Shukla is the first Indian to reach the ISS, making this a historic moment for India after four decades. - Message from Space
In a message sent from orbit, Shukla described the feeling of microgravity as something totally new. “It’s like learning to live again, like a baby,” he said. Floating in space, he added, was an “amazing” experience. He also shared that the 30-day quarantine before launch made him very eager to finally begin the journey. - Spectacular Launch in Florida
The launch lit up the night sky as the Falcon 9 rocket soared into space. A glowing yellow flame followed the rocket, making the moment even more thrilling. Video footage showed the astronauts calm and focused inside their white-and-black suits, strapped safely in the Dragon capsule. - International Teamwork in Space
The Axiom 4 crew includes astronauts from four different countries: - Peggy Whitson (65) – Mission Commander from the USA and former NASA astronaut.
- Shubhanshu Shukla (39) – Representing India.
- Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski (41) – Representing Poland.
- Tibor Kapu (33) – Representing Hungary.
- The team will spend 14 days aboard the ISS, carrying out important scientific experiments in a zero-gravity environment.
More About the Axiom 4 Mission
This is the fourth mission organized by Axiom Space, a private space company based in Houston. Starting in 2022, Axiom has been expanding its mission to carry both professional and private astronauts into low Earth orbit.
The company also plans to build a commercial space station to continue space exploration after the ISS retires around 2030. Mission commander Peggy Whitson is a legend in the space community. She holds the U.S. record for the most time spent in space — 675 days across four missions. She was NASA’s first female chief astronaut and commanded the Axiom 2 mission in 2023.
A Shared Achievement for India, Poland, and Hungary
For India, Poland, and Hungary, this mission is a symbol of national pride and a return to human spaceflight after 40 years. This is their first time sending astronauts to the ISS, making it a proud milestone in each country’s space journey.
SpaceX and NASA’s Ongoing Partnership
This mission is also important for SpaceX, marking its 18th human spaceflight since 2020. The company’s partnership with NASA has restored America’s ability to send astronauts to space from U.S. soil after the retirement of the Space Shuttle in 2011.
This Daily news highlight brings hope and excitement to people around the world. The success of Axiom 4 shows that space travel is no longer limited to government missions. Private companies and international teams are now shaping the future of space exploration. For India, it is a proud moment that will surely inspire a new generation of scientists, engineers, and astronauts.
