The first Indian astronaut is anticipated to arrive at the International Space Station. This space mission, which launched on Wednesday, features astronauts from India, Hungary, Poland, and the United States.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi proudly announced that Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, leading the Indian Astronaut Group, is en route to the International Space Station. Modi states that Shukla carries the dreams and hopes of 1.4 billion Indians.
“The Indian Astronaut, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, is on the way to become the first Indian to go to International Space Station. He carries with him the wishes, hopes and aspirations of 1.4 billion Indians,” Prime Minister Modi stated in a social media post.
According to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft launched at 2:31 a.m. on Wednesday from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Centre in Florida, USA.
The crew comprises Peggy Whitson, a former NASA astronaut, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) astronaut and pilot Shubhanshu Shukla, mission specialists European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski from Poland, and HUNOR (Hungarian to Orbit) astronaut Tibor Kapu from Hungary.
“Congratulations to Axiom Space and SpaceX on a successful launch,” NASA acting Administrator Janet Petro was quoted as saying.
This mission represents a collaborative effort between President Donald Trump of the United States and Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India, ensuring cooperation between NASA and ISRO for this pivotal mission, which involves the first Indian astronaut.
NASA and ISRO will participate in five joint scientific investigations and two in-orbit demonstrations related to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The arrival is scheduled for 5 a.m. on Thursday, June 26, 2025, with docking expected around 7 a.m., featuring live coverage, including on social media platforms.
The International Space Station plays a pivotal role in fostering a low Earth economy to achieve NASA's primary goal of establishing a robust economy on Earth by offering its services to fulfil scientific and research objectives in microgravity.
