Axiom-4 Mission's Dragon capsule, carrying Shubhanshu Shukla, successfully docks with ISS

Shubhanshu Shukla and his 3 crewmates successfully docked their Dragon capsule with the International Space Station
This mission makes Shukla the second Indian in space and the first to reach the ISS, 40 years after Rakesh Sharma
The four-member team, led by veteran Peggy Whitson, will spend 14 days on the ISS conducting scientific research

The Axiom-4 Mission's Dragon capsule, carrying Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla and three international crewmates, successfully docked with the International Space Station (ISS) on Thursday at 4:30 PM IST. This milestone marks a historic moment for India, as Shukla becomes the first Indian to reach the ISS and only the second Indian to travel to space, four decades after Rakesh Sharma's Salyut-7 mission in 1984.

The crew lifted off on Wednesday aboard SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft, propelled by a Falcon 9 rocket, from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. After a 28-hour journey, the autonomously piloted Crew Dragon spacecraft completed its soft capture at 4:01 PM IST, followed by hard capture and the full docking sequence by 4:15 PM IST, as the ISS cruised approximately 400 km above Earth. The team is now set to spend 14 days aboard the orbiting laboratory, conducting extensive scientific research in microgravity.

Shukla, reflecting on his journey from space, described adapting to microgravity as "like learning to live again, like a baby," and called the experience of floating "amazing." He expressed hope that his mission would inspire the next generation, much like Rakesh Sharma's pioneering flight decades ago. The Axiom-4 team is led by veteran astronaut Peggy Whitson, 65, and includes Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski (Poland) and Tibor Kapu (Hungary), signifying a historic return to human spaceflight for their respective nations after over 40 years.

This mission, the fourth by Houston-based Axiom Space, underscores the expanding role of private companies in human spaceflight. The crew will be welcomed by the seven current residents of the ISS, comprising NASA astronauts, a Japanese astronaut, and Russian cosmonauts. This collaboration, along with SpaceX's 18th human spaceflight, highlights the growing international partnership in space exploration and the increasing opportunities for nations like India to participate in and contribute to scientific advancements in low Earth orbit.

Tags:

Shubhanshu Shukla