Axiom 4 mission: 'Shubhanshu Shukla carries hopes of 1.4 billion Indians,' says PM Modi on India’s space comeback

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday celebrated the launch of Indian Air Force Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla to the International Space Station (ISS), calling it a moment of national pride and hope.

“We welcome the successful launch of the Space Mission carrying astronauts from India, Hungary, Poland and the US,” the Prime Minister posted on X, shortly after the Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission lifted off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre in Florida.

Shukla is now en route to become the first Indian to visit the ISS, riding aboard SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft on a 14-day science mission alongside three international crewmates.


“The Indian Astronaut, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is on the way to become the first Indian to go to International Space Station,” Modi wrote, saying that “He carries with him the wishes, hopes and aspirations of 1.4 billion Indians.”

“Wish him and other astronauts all the success!” Modi added.


The launch comes 40 years after Rakesh Sharma became the first Indian in space and is widely seen as a precursor to ISRO’s Gaganyaan mission, scheduled for 2027.

Shubhanshu Shukla Axiom 4 Launch Mission Live: Axiom-4 mission carrying IAF's Shubhanshu Shukla and crew launched successfully; check live updates

Axiom-4 mission: A new era for India in space

Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla lifted off at 12:01 PM IST on June 25 aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, powered by the Falcon-9 rocket, from the historic Launch Complex 39A — the same used by Apollo 11’s Neil Armstrong.

Shukla, joined by astronauts from the US, Hungary and Poland, will spend 14 days on the ISS conducting over 60 scientific experiments, ranging from space agriculture and DNA repair to biomedical research in microgravity.

His participation, funded through ISRO's collaboration with Axiom Space and NASA, cost the country an estimated Rs 500 crore. Yet, experts believe the investment is critical to India’s future in human spaceflight.

The mission strengthens India’s preparations for its own crewed venture — Gaganyaan, expected in 2027, and the planned Bharatiya Antariksh Station by 2035.

Also read: Lucknow boy charts India’s return to space after 40 years on SpaceX aircraft

Shukla’s first words after launch, “Namaskar mere deshwasiyon! Jai Hind, Jai Bharat,” are sure to strike an emotional chord with Indians back at home.

Despite facing multiple weather delays and technical issues, the launch succeeded on its third attempt — a moment not just for Shukla, but for India’s growing space ambitions on the global stage.