'Feeling lightheaded, but that's nothing compared to the excitement': Shubhanshu Shukla from ISS
Indian Air Force (IAF) Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is feeling "lightheaded" but "that is nothing compared to the excitement" as the Axiom-4 Mission carrying him and three other astronauts successfully docked at the International Space Station (ISS) this evening.
Shukla said he is excited about the scientific tasks he and the crew will perform over the next 14 days on the ISS.
"I am feeling lightheaded. But that is not much of an issue compared to the things we will do here for the next 14 days. It is a very proud and exciting moment, a big step in our space journey," Group Captain Shukla said.
He was flanked by the ISS crew and the three astronauts who came with him - Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski of Poland, Tibor Kapu of Hungary, and Dr Peggy Whitson of the US.
"Namaskar from space! I am thrilled to be here with my fellow astronauts. What a ride it was," says astronaut Group Captain Subhanshu, who is piloting #AxiomMission4, as he gives details about his journey into space.
— DD News (@DDNewslive) June 26, 2025
Carrying a soft toy Swan, he says, in Indian culture, the… pic.twitter.com/qVDM5CcEp7
The Axiom-4 successfully docked at ISS just after 4 pm. It was launched from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Wednesday.
#Watch | Shubhanshu Shukla becomes the first Indian to reach the International Space Station aboard Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4)! #AxiomMission4 crew enters the International Space Station #AxiomMission4 crew Mission Commander Peggy Whitson (US), Mission pilot #ShubhanshuShukla… pic.twitter.com/qu8vUMimSo
— DD News (@DDNewslive) June 26, 2025
Shukla piloted a SpaceX Dragon aircraft, which was launched for the space expedition.
He is accompanied by mission specialists Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski (Poland), Tibor Kapu (Hungary) and Commander Peggy Whitson (United States).
Earlier, Indian astronaut Rakesh Sharma spent eight days in orbit as a part of the Soviet mission to Space in 1984.
Shukla, who hails from the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, is a fighter pilot for 15 years.
