š„š Shubhanshu Shukla Set to Make India Proud in Space After 41 Years! šš„
- MediaFx

- Jun 24, 2025
- 3 min read
Indiaās Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is all set to soar to the International Space Station as part of the Axiom Mission 4, launching on June 25, 2025Ā at 12:01āÆPM IST, aboard SpaceXās Falcon 9 and Dragon spacecraft. Heāll join a crew with Peggy Whitson (Commander) and astronauts from Poland and Hungary. Docking is expected early JuneāÆ26. This marks the second Indian in space, after Rakesh Sharma in 1984, and the first IndianĀ to live onboard the ISS. šš®š³ Have a look at the epic journey, delays, experiments onboard, and why this mission matters for Indiaās working-class youth! šŖ

š Mission Highlights
Countdown to Launch: NASA, Axiom Space & SpaceX have rescheduledĀ the launch to Wednesday, June 25, 2025Ā at 2:31āÆAM EDT / 12:01āÆPM IST after several delays due to technical and ISS-related issues.
Docking Date: Expected docking at the ISS on June 26, around 7āÆAM EDT / 4:30āÆPM IST.
šØāāļø Meet the Crew
Group Captain Shubhanshu āShuxā Shukla (India)Ā ā an IAF test pilot with ~2,000 flight hours, selected in 2019 as part of Indiaās astronaut corps. He will be the pilot, carrying Indiaās space legacy forward.
Commander Peggy Whitson (USA)Ā ā holds records in spacewalk hours and will command the mission.
Mission Specialists:
SÅawosz UznaÅski-WiÅniewskiĀ (Poland)
Tibor KapuĀ (Hungary)A diverse international squad making global solidarity in space. š
ā³ Why the Delays?
Delayed 6 times: From May 29Ā ā June 8, 10, 11, 19, 22Ā ā now June 25Ā due to:
Inclement Florida weather
Falcon 9 LOX leakĀ found during booster check
Pressure leaks in ISSās Zvezda moduleNASA and ISRO had to pause and address these problems to ensure crew safety.
š§Ŗ Scientific Experiments on Board
~60 experimentsĀ planned over a fortnight-long mission.
7 experiments led by Indian researchers, including:
Microgravity effects on edible microalgae
Cognitive testing, microbial adaptation
Muscle atrophy, crop resilience studiesThese reflect Indiaās commitment to contributing global science, not just symbolic presence.
š®š³ Why This Matters for Indiaās Youth & Working People
Revives Indiaās human spaceflight legacyĀ after ~41 years since Rakesh Sharma.
Democratizes space: an ISRO-purchased seat (~ā¹500ā550āÆcrore) showing public investment in hiātech, shared benefit.
Science for all: enables Indian researchers to send experiments to ISS, strengthening home-grown science capacity.
Inspiration: For working-class children, Shubhanshuās journeyāfrom modest roots in Lucknow to test pilot to astronautāis a beacon of hope & possibility.
š£ļø MediaFx Opinion (from peopleās perspective)
MediaFx believes Shubhanshu Shuklaās mission shows what public-centered science can achieve. Instead of space being limited to elite coteries, this mission proves that government-backed, people-funded space explorationĀ can uplift society. With real experiments, diverse international collaboration, and youth inspiration, this mission symbolises our collective progress. It's time we challenge policies that privatise science and ensure that the benefits of space travelĀ go to the many, not the few. Let Indiaās working class ride this cosmic wave!
Next Steps āļø
Tune inĀ live (NASA stream) on June 25, 12:01āÆPM IST to witness history.
Watch Shubhanshuās journeyĀ aboard the ISS from June 26, explore Indian-led experiments.
Join the conversation: Drop your messages of pride and suggestionsāwhat experiments should future missions carry?
Broader demand: Push for more public-funded missions empowering Indiaās youth & ordinary people to stand tall on global platforms.
š Ask: What experiments or experiences would you like to see from Indian astronauts on the ISS? Comment below!













































