Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla has made history as the first Indian in 41 years to travel to space, marking a major milestone in India’s journey toward human spaceflight. During his mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS), Shukla conducted several scientific experiments, gaining experience that will prove crucial for ISRO’s upcoming Gaganyaan programme.
Mission Supports India’s First Manned Spaceflight
According to ISRO, Shukla’s mission served as a major learning experience. Nilesh M Desai, Director of ISRO’s Space Applications Centre, said that Shukla’s time in space helped the agency understand microgravity conditions, spacecraft operations, and experiment execution in space. This knowledge will directly aid ISRO’s plans for Gaganyaan, India’s first manned spaceflight mission.
Gaganyaan Programme Timeline
The Gaganyaan mission will begin with an unmanned flight later this year, followed by two more unmanned missions. After that, a crewed flight will send an Indian astronaut to space for 2 to 7 days, followed by a safe return to Earth. The experience gathered from Shukla’s mission will help prepare Indian astronauts for this ambitious programme over the next two years.
₹600 Crore Spent on Training and Mission
ISRO confirmed that around ₹600 crore was spent on the Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission, which included training for two astronauts and mission-related costs. Though both astronauts completed full training, only one—Shubhanshu Shukla—was selected to fly, while the other, Prashant Nair, served as backup.
International Collaboration with NASA and SpaceX
The mission was carried out in partnership with NASA and SpaceX, following an agreement signed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s US visit. The pact between ISRO and NASA enabled one Indian astronaut to be part of a US-led mission to the ISS. Shukla launched aboard the Dragonfly spacecraft using SpaceX’s Falcon rocket on June 25, and it docked with the ISS on June 26.
Return from the ISS and Recovery
Shukla’s mission ended with the undocking of the AX-4 mission at 4:35 AM IST on July 15. After traveling over 22.5 hours, the Dragonfly capsule is expected to land on the coast of California at 3 PM IST. Once recovered, the astronauts will undergo medical check-ups and rehabilitation.
Strengthening India’s Space Future
This mission has laid the groundwork for India’s future in human spaceflight. With data from real-time space experiments, ISRO is now better equipped to plan and execute the Gaganyaan manned mission, advancing India’s role in the global space community.
