In a landmark moment for Indian space exploration, Air Force Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla etched his name in history Thursday by becoming the first Indian to enter the International Space Station (ISS). Shukla arrived aboard the Crew Dragon capsule as part of the Axiom-4 private space mission, which launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

The capsule, named Grace, docked with the ISS at 4:15 PM IST after a 28-hour journey through space. The process involved a soft capture at 4:01 PM IST, followed by a hard capture that established a secure connection between the spacecraft and the ISS. Live visuals showed jubilant moments as Shukla and his fellow astronauts—Peggy Whitson (USA), Slawoz Wisniewski (Poland), and Tibor Kapu (Hungary)—floated into the station and were welcomed with hugs by the existing crew.

Before the hatch opened at 6:10 PM IST, mission systems conducted thorough checks to confirm a perfect seal between the spacecraft and the station. The docking and entry were broadcast live, with Commander Whitson thanking ISS crew and ground control.

Shukla, who described the launch as “magical,” reflected on the experience, saying, “The moment we lifted off, I felt the sheer force and then—suddenly—silence, weightlessness... it was surreal.” He also credited the success to engineers and scientists across the globe, calling it a “collective achievement.”

Over the next 14 days, the crew will conduct 60 experiments, including seven from India. These range from studying microgravity effects on ‘water bears’ to advancements in biomanufacturing and bio-astronautics.

Shukla’s historic achievement marks a proud chapter for India in global space exploration and is expected to inspire a new generation of Indian scientists and explorers.

In a landmark moment for Indian space exploration, Air Force Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla etched his name in history Thursday by becoming the first Indian to enter the International Space Station (ISS). Shukla arrived aboard the Crew Dragon capsule as part of the Axiom-4 private space mission, which launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

The capsule, named Grace, docked with the ISS at 4:15 PM IST after a 28-hour journey through space. The process involved a soft capture at 4:01 PM IST, followed by a hard capture that established a secure connection between the spacecraft and the ISS. Live visuals showed jubilant moments as Shukla and his fellow astronauts—Peggy Whitson (USA), Slawoz Wisniewski (Poland), and Tibor Kapu (Hungary)—floated into the station and were welcomed with hugs by the existing crew.

Before the hatch opened at 6:10 PM IST, mission systems conducted thorough checks to confirm a perfect seal between the spacecraft and the station. The docking and entry were broadcast live, with Commander Whitson thanking ISS crew and ground control.

Shukla, who described the launch as “magical,” reflected on the experience, saying, “The moment we lifted off, I felt the sheer force and then—suddenly—silence, weightlessness... it was surreal.” He also credited the success to engineers and scientists across the globe, calling it a “collective achievement.”

Over the next 14 days, the crew will conduct 60 experiments, including seven from India. These range from studying microgravity effects on ‘water bears’ to advancements in biomanufacturing and bio-astronautics.

Shukla’s historic achievement marks a proud chapter for India in global space exploration and is expected to inspire a new generation of Indian scientists and explorers.