India's Shubhanshu Shukla, part of AX-4, to launch to Space Station on this date

Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is set to become the first Indian astronaut to travel to the International Space Station as part of Axiom Mission 4. The Indian astronaut, also part of the Gaganyaan Mission will launch to the flying laboratory in May 2025 from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, this mission marks a significant step in India’s participation in international space exploration. His participation underscores India’s growing role in global space exploration, following in the footsteps of Rakesh Sharma, who became the first Indian in space in 1984. As Shukla embarks on this journey, he views it as a representation of India’s collective aspirations, stating, “Even as an individual traveling to space, this is the journey of 1.4 billion people”.