Axiom 4 space flight, with India’s Shubhanshu Shukla on board, lifts off

Shubhanshu Shukla became the second Indian to go to space as the Axiom 4 spaceflight lifted off from Florida, United States on Wednesday.

Axiom 4 is a private spaceflight to the International Space Station. The astronaut module is expected to dock at the space station on Thursday. They are expected to spend up to 14 days in space.

Moments after the spacecraft reached Earth’s orbit on Wednesday, Shukla said that India had reached space after 41 years.

“The tricolour on my shoulder is telling me that I’m not alone, I’m with all of you,” Shukla said in Hindi. “This is not just the beginning of my journey to the International Space Station, this is the beginning of India's human space programme. I want all countrymen to be a part of this journey.”

Shukla will be the first Indian to live and work on the International Space Station.

We have LIFTOFF of Axiom Mission 4!

The #Ax4 mission lifted off from Launch Complex 39A at 2:31am ET June 25, taking four private astronauts to the @Space_Station for a mission of up to 14 days. pic.twitter.com/lhRkWUwAGk

— NASA's Kennedy Space Center (@NASAKennedy) June 25, 2025

The mission is operated by US-based space infrastructure firm Axiom Space. The astronaut module was launched on board a SpaceX rocket, in partnership with National Aeronautics and...

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