Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla has become the first Indian to travel to the International Space Station (ISS), marking a major milestone in India’s space journey. The Indian government released images of Shukla observing Earth from the ISS, showcasing his historic presence aboard the space station.
Mission Details and Arrival
Shukla is part of the Axiom-4 mission, which docked with the ISS on June 26 after a 28-hour journey around Earth. The mission is led by veteran astronaut Peggy Whitson, with Shukla serving as mission pilot. He is accompanied by astronauts from Hungary, Poland, and the United States.
Breathtaking Views from Space
In the newly released photos, Shukla is seen inside the ISS’s iconic Cupola Module — a 7-windowed observatory that offers a 360-degree view of Earth. The caption shared with the images read, “Gazing Down From The Space,” as Shukla takes in the panoramic beauty of the planet, now marking one week in orbit.

A Message from Space to India
During his stay, Shukla spoke with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and described how seeing India from space had moved him. “India looked far larger and more beautiful than it does on a map. There are no borders — just one Earth. It felt like we all belong to a single home,” he told the Prime Minister.
PM Modi Congratulates the Mission
Following the successful launch, Prime Minister Modi praised Shukla and the multinational crew. He highlighted that the Group Captain was carrying the hopes and aspirations of 1.4 billion Indians. “He is on the way to becoming the first Indian on the International Space Station. We wish him and the team great success,” Modi wrote on X.
Second Indian in Space, First on ISS
While Shukla is the second Indian to enter space after Rakesh Sharma, he is the first to reach the ISS — a milestone that puts India among a select group of nations with astronauts aboard the orbital station. His mission not only furthers India’s space legacy but also marks a new era of international collaboration in human spaceflight.