India has reached a significant milestone in its ambitions to become a major player in space exploration as Shubhanshu Shukla became the first Indian astronaut to journey to the International Space Station (ISS) on Wednesday.

Shukla is part of the Axiom Space Mission 4, or Ax-4, a commercial mission launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The mission is managed by Axiom Space, a Texas-based company, in collaboration with SpaceX, the aerospace firm founded by Elon Musk.

The crew is scheduled to dock at the ISS’s Harmony module port at 7 a.m. ET on Thursday.

Joining Shukla on the mission are veteran astronaut Peggy Whitson of NASA and two first-time space travelers: Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski from Poland and Tibor Kapu from Hungary. For both of them, this journey marks the first time representatives from their respective countries have reached the ISS.

As the mission’s pilot, Shukla will spend approximately two weeks in orbit, contributing to around 60 scientific investigations before returning to Earth.

NASA has confirmed its joint work with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in supporting this important mission.

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed national pride on social media, stating that Shukla “carries the best wishes and dreams of 1.4 billion Indians.”

“I wish him and the entire crew great success!” Modi said in his message.

Shukla’s accomplishment makes him only the second Indian to travel into space, following Rakesh Sharma, who flew with the Soviet space program in 1984.

Sharma sent a message of support to the Ax-4 crew through a recorded video. “Best wishes to all of you. Godspeed,” he said, encouraging them to take time to enjoy the view from space.

Back in his hometown of Lucknow, Shukla’s parents were visibly moved while watching the live broadcast of the launch.

“He’s the first Indian to reach the ISS. This is a moment of immense pride for us,” said student Isma Tarikh. “It's truly motivating... I also hope to make a global impact like Shukla one day.”

Fellow student Mohammad Hamughan shared similar enthusiasm. “It’s a proud day for us Indians,” he said. “This inspires me to pursue a career in space science. I’ve always enjoyed reading about science fiction, but this makes it feel real for students like me.”

Shukla’s journey is seen as an early step toward India’s upcoming Gaganyaan mission, the nation’s first manned spaceflight, which is anticipated in 2027.

According to government statements from May, four Indian Air Force pilots chosen for Gaganyaan have completed initial training in Russia and are now undergoing advanced training in India.

Under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, who began a third term in 2023, India has accelerated its space programs to boost its standing on the global stage.

In January, India achieved a key milestone by completing its first successful uncrewed space docking operation.

Also in 2023, the country joined a select group of nations by successfully landing the Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft near the moon’s unexplored South Pole. This landmark mission provided valuable data that is deepening scientists’ understanding of the moon’s formation and history.

Looking to the future, India aims to establish its own space station — the Bharatiya Antariksha Station — by 2035 and plans to launch its first orbital mission to Venus in 2028.