Indian Air Force (IAF) Chief Air Chief Marshal AP Singh on Tuesday extended his best wishes to Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, who is poised to become the second Indian to travel to space as part of the upcoming Axiom-4 mission to the International Space Station (ISS).
In a video conference with Shukla, the Chief of the Air Staff conveyed the pride and support of the entire IAF, calling the mission a significant milestone in India’s space journey. “As Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla prepares to embark on the Axiom-4 space mission tomorrow, the Chief of the Air Staff and all Air Warriors of IAF wish him and the entire crew all the best for a safe and successful trip to the International Space Station. This will add a new chapter to the Indian Space Odyssey,” the IAF posted on X.
The Axiom-4 mission, now scheduled for liftoff at 5:30 PM IST on June 11 due to weather delays, marks a major moment in India’s international space collaboration. It is the second-ever government-sponsored human spaceflight mission for India, coming four decades after Rakesh Sharma’s historic flight in 1984.
In a video shared by Axiom Space, Group Captain Shukla reflected on his journey, calling it a dream come true. “I grew up reading about Rakesh Sharma in textbooks. I was deeply impressed by him. I feel extremely fortunate to have been given the opportunity to fly all my life—and now to fly to space,” said Shukla, who served as a fighter pilot for 15 years.
The Axiom-4 mission will feature a diverse international crew including astronauts from India, Poland, and Hungary—each representing their country’s return to human spaceflight after more than four decades. Group Captain Shukla will serve as the co-pilot, assisting mission commander and veteran American astronaut Peggy Whitson.
Meanwhile, SpaceX, which will launch the crew aboard its Dragon spacecraft, has emphasized the safety upgrades in its systems. William Gerstenmaier, SpaceX Vice President of Build and Flight Reliability, noted improvements made to propulsion components and reaffirmed the company’s commitment to safety and innovation.
With a record number of launches planned in 2025, including around 100 more orbital missions, SpaceX continues to expand its human spaceflight capabilities—supporting global missions like Axiom-4 that mark a new era in international space cooperation.
