India’s Historic Leap: Shubhanshu Shukla To Become 1st Indian on ISS in Multinational Space Mission

History was made today as astronauts from India, Poland, and Hungary embarked on their first-ever mission to the International Space Station (ISS) aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule. The mission, dubbed Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4), lifted off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida and is expected to dock with the ISS after a 28-hour journey.

A little bit more of humanity is in space today. 🇺🇸🇮🇳🇵🇱🇭🇺

The four-member crew of #Ax4 includes astronauts from @ESA and @ISRO. @Axiom_Space's fourth private astronaut mission is set to arrive at the @Space_Station on Thursday, June 26: https://t.co/fnGkb4d64E pic.twitter.com/liUkioCr25

— NASA (@NASA) June 25, 2025

The four-member crew includes:

• Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla (India) – an Indian Air Force pilot and the first Indian to visit the ISS.
• Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski (Poland) – a physicist and ESA project astronaut.
• Tibor Kapu (Hungary) – a mechanical engineer representing Hungary’s HUNOR program.
• Peggy Whitson (USA) – a veteran astronaut and mission commander, holding the U.S. record for most days in space.

This privately funded mission, organized by Axiom Space, marks a return to human spaceflight for all three nations after more than four decades. Over the next 14 days, the crew will conduct around 60 scientific experiments spanning microgravity research, space agriculture, and biomedical studies.

And in a charming cultural touch, they’ve brought along national delicacies—Indian curry, Hungarian paprika paste, and Polish pierogies—to share aboard the ISS.

Launch Details:

• Launch Time & Vehicle: 12:01 PM IST on June 25 from Launch Complex 39A, Kennedy Space Center using a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Crew Dragon spacecraft.
• Docking Schedule: Expected at 4:30 PM IST on June 26.

Crew Highlights:

• Shubhanshu Shukla (India) – Pilot, first Indian to visit the ISS.
• Peggy Whitson (USA) – Commander, record-holder for most days in space by an American.
• Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski (Poland) – ESA astronaut and physicist.
• Tibor Kapu (Hungary) – Engineer from Hungary’s HUNOR program.

Scientific Goals:

• 60 experiments across 31 countries.
• Research in space agriculture, gut microbiota, microgravity physics.
• India-specific studies on screen use, muscle atrophy, and neurofeedback.

Symbolism & Facts:

• First government-sponsored human spaceflight in over four decades for India, Poland, and Hungary.
• Fulfills diplomatic commitments for enhanced Indo.
• Mission overcame six delays due to weather and a liquid oxygen leak.

After liftoff, #Ax4 Commander @AstroPeggy revealed the name of the new @SpaceX Dragon spacecraft headed to the @Space_Station. Meet Grace! https://t.co/wb27kTMwHh pic.twitter.com/7QnyFOfRu7

— Axiom Space (@Axiom_Space) June 25, 2025