New Delhi, July 8, 2025 – In a historic milestone for India’s space exploration journey, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the first Indian astronaut to set foot on the International Space Station (ISS), has captivated the nation and the world by sharing breathtaking views of Earth from the ISS’s iconic seven-windowed Cupola Module. This moment, marked by stunning photographs and heartfelt messages from orbit, symbolizes India’s growing prowess in human spaceflight and has ignited a wave of national pride. Shukla’s journey, part of the Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission, underscores the country’s ambitions to become a global leader in space exploration, paving the way for the Gaganyaan program and beyond.
A Historic Journey to the ISS
Shubhanshu Shukla, an Indian Air Force Group Captain and seasoned test pilot, embarked on this groundbreaking mission on June 24, 2025, launching aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. As the mission pilot for the Axiom-4 mission, Shukla joined an international crew led by veteran astronaut Peggy Whitson, alongside Polish scientist Slawosz Uznanski and Hungarian astronaut Tibor Kapu. After a 28-hour orbital journey, the crew docked with the ISS on June 26, 2025, marking Shukla as the first Indian to reach the orbiting laboratory and only the second Indian to venture into space, following Rakesh Sharma’s 1984 mission aboard the Soviet Soyuz T-11.
The Axiom-4 mission, a commercial spaceflight facilitated through a collaboration between Axiom Space and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), represents a significant step in India’s human spaceflight endeavors. Shukla’s 14-day mission is packed with over 60 scientific experiments, seven of which were contributed by ISRO, focusing on microgravity biology, materials science, human health, and neuroscience. These experiments are designed to yield insights critical for India’s upcoming Gaganyaan mission, which aims to demonstrate India’s capability to launch a crewed spacecraft into low Earth orbit by 2026.
The Cupola Module: A Window to Earth
The Cupola Module, a seven-windowed observatory installed on the ISS in 2010, has become one of the station’s most cherished features, offering astronauts a 360-degree panoramic view of Earth. For Shukla, entering the Cupola was a moment of profound awe and inspiration. Photographs released by the Indian government and Axiom Space on July 6, 2025, show Shukla seated at the edge of the Cupola, gazing at the vibrant blue expanse of Earth against the backdrop of space. The images, shared widely on social media platforms like X by MyGovIndia, have gone viral, with captions celebrating Shukla’s achievement: “Gazing Down From The Space! Group Capt Shubhanshu Shukla enjoys the stunning panoramic view of Earth from the 7-windowed Cupola Module aboard the International Space Station.”
The Cupola is not just a scenic vantage point; it serves as a critical operational hub, allowing astronauts to monitor external activities, control robotic arms, and capture high-resolution images of Earth. For Shukla, the module offered a unique perspective on the planet’s interconnectedness, a sentiment he echoed in a message shared on X: “Earth is our common home, and from here, it looks breathtakingly beautiful without borders.” This reflection resonated deeply with millions of Indians, reinforcing the universal appeal of space exploration and humanity’s shared responsibility to protect the planet.
A Symbol of National Pride
Shukla’s presence in the Cupola has sparked widespread excitement across India, with social media abuzz with admiration for his achievement. The images of him observing Earth have become a powerful symbol of India’s progress in space technology and its growing influence on the global stage. Posts on X from accounts like @MIB_India and @isro have hailed Shukla’s mission as a “historic leap for India,” emphasizing its role in inspiring the nation’s youth to pursue careers in science and technology. The Indian government has leveraged this moment to promote space awareness, with ISRO planning outreach activities to engage students and foster interest in the Gaganyaan program.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s interaction with Shukla on June 28, 2025, further amplified the mission’s significance. During a telephonic conversation from orbit, Shukla shared his experiences, describing the challenges of adapting to microgravity and the pride of carrying the Indian tricolor on his shoulder. “My head feels heavy, and there’s a little discomfort, but these are small things, and in a few days, we’ll get used to them,” he told the Prime Minister, reflecting his resilience and optimism. Modi’s words of encouragement, broadcast nationwide, inspired millions, with the interaction described by ISRO as a moment that “motivates 140 crore Indians.”
Scientific Contributions and the Gaganyaan Connection
Beyond the symbolic importance of his Cupola moment, Shukla’s mission is a scientific triumph. His experiments aboard the ISS are designed to advance India’s understanding of microgravity and its effects on human health, materials, and biological systems. One flagship project, the Myogenesis experiment, conducted in the ISS’s Life Sciences Glovebox, investigates muscle atrophy in space, a critical concern for long-duration spaceflight. Shukla explained the experiment’s relevance in a conversation with Prime Minister Modi, stating, “Muscle loss occurs in space due to the absence of gravity. My experiment looks at whether we can delay this by using supplements.” The findings could benefit not only astronauts but also patients on Earth with age-related muscle decline.
Another notable study, the Suite Ride experiment, monitors glucose metabolism and insulin effectiveness in microgravity using a continuous glucose monitor. This research has implications for diabetes care, a pressing health issue in India. Shukla is also involved in neuroscience experiments exploring how spaceflight affects memory, perception, and stress responses, contributing to the development of intuitive systems for future astronauts. Additionally, the Sprouts project, which involves irrigating crop seeds to study germination in space, could inform sustainable agriculture practices for space missions and Earth-based farming.
These experiments are closely tied to the Gaganyaan program, ISRO’s ambitious initiative to launch a crewed mission by 2026. During a call with ISRO Chairman Dr. V Narayanan on July 6, 2025, Shukla provided updates on his scientific activities, emphasizing their role in addressing challenges for Gaganyaan. Narayanan stressed the importance of meticulous documentation, noting that Shukla’s observations will provide valuable insights for India’s human spaceflight program. The call, attended by top ISRO officials, underscored the agency’s commitment to leveraging Shukla’s mission for national advancement.
A Global Collaboration
The Axiom-4 mission highlights the power of international collaboration in space exploration. The ISS, a joint project involving the United States, Russia, Japan, Canada, and the European Space Agency, now hosts India’s first astronaut, marking the country’s entry into this elite group of contributors. Shukla’s mission, executed under the ISRO-Axiom Spaceflight agreement, demonstrates India’s ability to partner with global leaders while advancing its indigenous space capabilities. The crew’s diversity—comprising astronauts from India, the United States, Poland, and Hungary—reflects the universal nature of space exploration, with Shukla’s photographs from the Cupola reinforcing the idea of Earth as a shared home.
Images of Shukla and his crewmates, including a joint selfie in the Cupola, have showcased the camaraderie and teamwork aboard the ISS. Axiom Space’s release of these photographs, alongside Shukla’s solo shots, has further amplified the mission’s global impact, inspiring audiences far beyond India’s borders.
A Cosmic Connection for Indians
In a unique opportunity for skywatchers, Shukla’s presence aboard the ISS coincides with multiple flyovers of the station over India in early July 2025. Visible to the naked eye as a fast-moving star, the ISS can be spotted shortly before sunrise or after sunset, offering Indians a chance to connect with Shukla’s mission. In a heartfelt message shared on X, Shukla urged his compatriots to “look up and feel part of this incredible journey.” The Times of India and The Economic Times have published schedules for ISS flyovers, encouraging stargazers to witness this rare celestial event and imagine waving to Shukla as he gazes down from the Cupola.
This cosmic connection has added an emotional layer to Shukla’s mission, uniting science, pride, and humanity. For a nation of 1.4 billion, the sight of an Indian astronaut observing Earth from space is a moment of profound significance, signaling India’s readiness to claim its place among the stars.
Last Updated on Tuesday, July 8, 2025 8:37 am by Mahitha Ventrapati
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