KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Florida, June 4:  Next week, the Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) is set to launch from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, marking a historic moment as Indian Air Force Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla joins the crew to travel to the International Space Station (ISS). Scheduled for liftoff on June 10 at 08:22 EDT (12:22 GMT; 17:52 IST), the mission will see Shukla become only the second Indian ever to go to space and the first to visit the ISS.

The flight’s significance has captured widespread attention in India, coming 41 years after cosmonaut Rakesh Sharma became the country’s first astronaut during his 1984 Soviet Soyuz mission, where he spent nearly eight days in orbit.

Ax-4’s four-member international crew includes mission commander and former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, a veteran with two prior ISS commands, hundreds of days in space, and 10 spacewalks under her belt. Joining them are Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski from Poland and Tibor Kapu from Hungary, both returning their nations to space after more than four decades.

As pilot, Group Captain Shukla will serve as second-in-command, assisting with critical spacecraft operations during launch, docking, undocking, and re-entry. The crew has been in quarantine since May 25 to prepare for the mission.

At a press conference held on Tuesday evening, the astronauts introduced “Joy” — a small white toy swan they joked would be the “fifth crew member” on Ax-4. Commander Whitson expressed confidence in the team, saying, “We are good for the launch, we have completed all the training, and the team has bonded well.”

Shukla shared his excitement, calling the past year “nothing short of transformative.” “It has been an amazing journey so far, but the best is yet to come,” he said. “As I go into space, I carry not just instruments and equipment, I carry hopes and dreams of a billion hearts. I request all Indians to pray for the success of our mission.”

The 39-year-old was one of four Indian Air Force officers shortlisted last year to participate in India’s maiden human spaceflight, the Gaganyaan mission, slated for 2027. Gaganyaan aims to send three astronauts into a 400km orbit for three days. India has also announced plans to build its own space station by 2035 and send an astronaut to the Moon by 2040.

The Ax-4 mission is a collaborative venture between NASA, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), and the European Space Agency (ESA), operated commercially by Houston-based Axiom Space. The launch vehicle will be SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket, carrying the Crew Dragon capsule.

ISRO has invested ₹5 billion (around $59 million) for Shukla’s seat and training. ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan highlighted the mission’s importance, saying the experience gained will be “phenomenal” for India’s space programme. “The training, exposure to facilities, and experience conducting experiments in space will be invaluable,” he added.

ISRO project director Sudeesh Balan noted that Shukla has undergone rigorous physical and psychological training since August last year to prepare for this journey.

Born on October 10, 1985, in Lucknow, Shukla joined the Indian Air Force as a fighter pilot in 2006. With over 2,000 hours of flying experience, he has piloted various aircraft including MiGs, Sukhois, Dorniers, Jaguars, and Hawks.

His sister, Shuchi Mishra, revealed that his entry into the Air Force was “accidental” — a high school friend passed on a National Defence Academy application form that Shukla filled out instead, leading to his selection. She expressed immense pride, saying, “He’s a part of our family and our country’s journey. We hope his trip inspires the next generation.”

Aside from piloting the mission, Shukla will be involved in a packed schedule aboard the ISS, which includes engaging with Indian students through live events aimed at inspiring youth in space technology.

The crew will conduct 60 scientific experiments, seven of which originate from India. ISRO’s experiments focus on diverse fields such as biology, microgravity effects, and crop science.

One key study will examine how spaceflight affects six varieties of crop seeds, aiming to understand how crops might be grown for future long-term space missions. Seeds will be analyzed over multiple generations to identify traits suited for space agriculture.

Another experiment involves cultivating three strains of microalgae with potential applications in food, fuel, and life support systems, helping to identify strains that thrive in microgravity.

ISRO will also study tardigrades — microscopic animals known for surviving extreme conditions — to observe their reproduction and revival in space.

Additional research will explore muscle loss in microgravity and investigate how prolonged use of computer screens affects astronauts’ physical and cognitive health, including eye movement and stress levels. These findings may influence the design of future spacecraft interfaces.

As India watches closely, Group Captain Shukla’s pioneering journey aboard Ax-4 promises to deepen the nation’s space expertise and inspire generations to come.