New Delhi: US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor met Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, praising his historic journey to the International Space Station (ISS) as an example of the growing US-India partnership in space exploration.
Gor said he was pleased to meet Shukla, who became the first Indian astronaut to travel to and live aboard the International Space Station. Shukla, an Indian Air Force test pilot and member of the ISRO Gaganyaan astronaut pool, served as the pilot of Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4). (ISRO)
Shukla underwent extensive astronaut training, including at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, Axiom Space facilities and SpaceX’s Dragon mission simulators. He was selected as the prime crew member for Ax-4 and subsequently flew to the ISS aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft. (ISRO)
The Ax-4 mission launched on June 25, 2025, and Shukla reached the ISS the following day. He spent 18 days in space, conducting scientific experiments and activities before returning to Earth on July 15, 2025. (ISRO)
Shukla’s mission was particularly significant for India as he became the second Indian to travel to space after Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma’s 1984 mission, while becoming the first Indian to enter the ISS. (New India Samachar)
Ambassador Gor said Shukla’s journey—from training with NASA to piloting Axiom Space’s Ax-4 mission—demonstrates the strength of US-India cooperation in human spaceflight.
The Ax-4 mission also involved extensive international scientific collaboration, with the crew carrying out microgravity research aboard the ISS. The mission has further highlighted the expanding scope of cooperation between ISRO, NASA, Axiom Space and other international partners. (ISRO)