Shubhanshu Shukla’s First video: SpaceX released the first video footage of Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla inside the Crew Dragon spacecraft just moments before the successful launch of the Axiom-4 mission. The mission lifted off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on June 25, 2025, at 12:01 PM IST. The video captured a historic moment as Shukla, along with his three crewmates, suited up and prepared for their journey to the International Space Station (ISS). The footage showed the crew calmly seated and ready inside the spacecraft, marking a significant milestone for India in human spaceflight.

Shukla has now become the second Indian astronaut to travel to space, following Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma’s mission aboard a Soviet spacecraft in 1984. He is also the first Indian to reach the ISS as part of a commercial crew mission, making history with this landmark achievement.

Successful launch of Axiom-4:
The famous Launch Complex 39A, where Neil Armstrong started his Apollo 11 journey to the moon in 1969, is where the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket took off. In addition to Shukla, the crew consists of mission specialists Tibor Kapu of Hungary and Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski of Poland, as well as mission commander Peggy Whitson from the United States. At a speed of almost 7.5 kilometers per second, the team is currently on its way to the ISS.

Take a look at the video:

Ax-4 is go for launch! pic.twitter.com/mnGATK01gf

— SpaceX (@SpaceX) June 25, 2025

SpaceX confirmed Shubhanshu Shukla’s readiness for the flight by releasing video footage that showed him sitting comfortably aboard the Dragon spacecraft just before takeoff. After liftoff, Shukla wrote to mission control with joy and excitement: “Namaskar, my dear countrymen; we have reached space after 41 years. The ride was fantastic. On my shoulders is the Indian tricolor.” He invited all Indians to share in the historic moment and emphasized that the mission signals the beginning of India’s human spaceflight journey.

By serving as the Mission Pilot on this landmark commercial voyage, Shukla highlighted India’s growing involvement in global space exploration. His role represents a major milestone for the country and lays the foundation for upcoming projects such as the Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission and the proposed Bharat Antariksh Station. With this mission, India has stepped confidently into a new era of space science and technology.

Also Read: Starbucks Aims for 1,000 Stores Across India by 2028

Share

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
•