Cape Canaveral/New Delhi: India celebrated a historic moment in its space journey on Thursday as Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla became the first Indian astronaut to board the International Space Station (ISS).

Indian Air Force Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla has become the first Indian astronaut to enter the International Space Station. The event unfolded as the Dragon capsule of Axiom Space’s fourth private mission (Axiom-4) successfully docked with the ISS.

The Dragon spacecraft carrying Shukla and three other astronauts achieved soft capture with International Space Station. The soft capture of the Dragon spacecraft took place when the space station was passing over north Atlantic Ocean at 4:01 pm IST.

Shortly after the successfully docking at the Space Station, Group Captain Shukla's family erupted into applause. Reacting to the historic feat, Union Minister Jitendra Singh posted: "Docking accomplished. Shubhanshu stands at the threshold entrance of International Space Station #ISS... waiting to step in for a 14 day sojourn…. as the world watches with excitement and expectation."

Shukla, an Indian Air Force officer, serves as pilot of the mission, which also includes former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson as commander and mission specialists Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski of Poland and Tibor Kapu of Hungary.

The mission, which launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on June 24 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9, represents a milestone in India’s expanding presence in international space collaboration.

“This is magical,” Shukla said during a live message from space. “You’re pushed back into the seat—and then suddenly, there’s silence. You’re floating in the vacuum… absolutely magical.”

In his first message after liftoff, he addressed his country:

“Namaskar Mere Pyare Deshwasiyon... Kaafi Saal Baad Hum Phir Wapas Antariksh Mein Pohonch Gaye Hain… Mere Kande Pe Tiranga Hai. Jai Hind, Jai Bharat.”

This moment marks India's return to human spaceflight after 41 years, following the 1984 mission of Rakesh Sharma, who travelled aboard a Soviet spacecraft. Shukla is the first Indian to enter the ISS and the second Indian to fly in space.

The astronauts will spend two weeks aboard the ISS, conducting over 60 scientific and commercial experiments, with participation from NASA, ESA, and private research organisations.

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the achievement, saying Shukla “carries the aspirations of 1.4 billion Indians.” The mission comes amid heightened Indian space ambitions, with the Gaganyaan human spaceflight project planned for 2027, and a space station (Bharatiya Antariksha Station) scheduled for 2035.

As Shukla’s proud family watched the live stream from Lucknow, the nation erupted in pride. Students, aspiring scientists, and ISRO officials called the event an inspiration for future generations.

Veteran astronaut Rakesh Sharma, in a video message, offered his blessings to the crew:

“Wishing you all the very best. To the crew—godspeed. And spend as much time as possible looking out of the window.”

India’s journey to the stars has officially entered a new chapter—one inside the orbiting laboratory that circles Earth every 90 minutes.