New Delhi [India], June 25: Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh hailed the successful launch of the Axiom Mission 4 to the International Space Station (ISS) as a milestone in India’s pursuit of becoming a “Viksit Bharat” (developed India), stating that Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla’s role in the mission symbolizes India’s ascent via space.
“India’s ascent to the pedestal of Viksit Bharat has started via space,” said Singh, praising Shukla as “possibly the most crucial member” of the Axiom-4 mission.
Shukla, a pilot from the Indian Air Force and a key astronaut candidate for ISRO’s Gaganyaan mission, is conducting seven critical experiments designed by Indian institutes aboard the ISS. These experiments are expected to have significant global scientific relevance, Singh added.
He emphasized that this success is a vindication of the vision of ISRO’s founding pioneers, including Dr. Vikram Sarabhai and Prof. Satish Dhawan, now being realized under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“It is indeed the vindication of the founding fathers of India’s space program. That it had to happen under PM Modi’s leadership makes it even more significant,” he said.
Singh celebrated the launch by distributing sweets to dignitaries including Australian High Commissioner Philip Green and Frances Adamson AC, Governor of South Australia, reflecting growing international collaboration in space science.
🌍 About the Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4)
- Launch Date & Time: June 25, 12 Noon IST (2:31 am ET)
- Launch Site: NASA Kennedy Space Center, Florida
- Docking Expected: June 26, 4 PM IST
🚀 Crew Members:
- Peggy Whitson (Commander) – Former NASA astronaut
- Shubhanshu Shukla (Pilot) – Group Captain, Indian Air Force / ISRO astronaut
- Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski (Mission Specialist) – Poland, ESA
- Tibor Kapu (Mission Specialist) – Hungary
The Ax-4 crew is conducting 60 scientific experiments representing 31 countries, making it the most research-intensive Axiom mission to date.
The astronauts are also testing the new AxEMU spacesuit, designed for next-gen lunar exploration and tailored for a wide range of body types—crucial for future NASA Artemis missions.
🔬 India’s Contributions:
- 7 cutting-edge experiments by Indian research institutes
- Collaboration between NASA and ISRO for joint scientific investigations
- Critical experiential learning for the Gaganyaan mission team
With Shukla’s involvement in Axiom-4, India not only strengthens its astronaut training pipeline but also deepens its role in global space research. His zero-gravity and ISS operational experience will directly contribute to refining Gaganyaan’s design, safety, and mission protocols.
“This is a leap forward in India’s space diplomacy, scientific ambition, and human spaceflight capability,” said Singh.