Axiom 4 Achieves ISS Docking: Shubhanshu Shukla Makes History as First Indian Aboard Orbital Lab

 June 26, 2025 – The Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) Dragon capsule, carrying India's Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla and three other international astronauts, successfully docked with the International Space Station (ISS) today, marking a momentous achievement in human spaceflight. The docking completed a journey of approximately 28 hours after the mission's launch on Wednesday.

The Crew Dragon capsule, named "Grace" by the crew, executed a precise autonomous docking with the ISS Harmony module's space-facing port at approximately 4:03 PM IST (6:33 AM EDT). The "soft capture," the initial physical contact between the spacecraft and the station, was followed by "hard capture" just minutes later, securing the capsule firmly to the orbital outpost.

The four-member crew, led by former NASA astronaut and Axiom Space's Director of Human Spaceflight Peggy Whitson (Commander, USA), includes Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla (Pilot, India), Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski (Mission Specialist, Poland), and Tibor Kapu (Mission Specialist, Hungary).

For India, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla's arrival at the ISS is a deeply significant milestone, making him the first Indian astronaut to board the orbiting laboratory and only the second Indian to venture into space, following Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma's mission in 1984. This accomplishment is being widely celebrated across the nation, seen as a powerful testament to India's burgeoning space ambitions.

Upon successful docking, the astronauts began the mandatory leak checks and pressure equalization procedures to ensure a safe opening of the hatches. Once complete, the Ax-4 crew will be welcomed aboard the ISS by its current Expedition 73 residents, comprising astronauts from the U.S., Japan, and Russia.

During their planned two-week stay on the ISS, the Ax-4 crew will embark on an intensive schedule of scientific research, educational outreach, and commercial activities. Group Captain Shukla is slated to conduct approximately seven India-led experiments, focusing on crucial areas such as the impact of microgravity on crop seeds, cyanobacteria, and human muscle function, contributing valuable data for India's indigenous Gaganyaan human spaceflight program.

The successful docking marks the culmination of meticulous planning and preparation, including navigating through previous launch delays. It reinforces the growing collaboration between international space agencies and private space companies in advancing humanity's presence in low Earth orbit.