Shubhanshu Shukla's 1st day at the International Space Station
On June 26, 2025, Indian Air Force Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla made history as the first Indian to reach the International Space Station (ISS) since 1984, arriving on SpaceX's Crew Dragon as part of Axiom Mission 4.
It's a big comeback for India in human spaceflight after four decades.
First day on the job for Shukla
Shukla got a warm welcome from the ISS crew with a traditional drink. He shook off some mild space sickness and jumped right into life aboard—safety briefings, dinner with all 11 astronauts, and his first sleep in microgravity.
By morning, he was already starting experiments and hitting the gym (yes, there's one in space).
Shukla is running about 60 experiments designed with ISRO and NASA, looking at things like muscle regeneration, growing edible microalgae, and how humans interact with tech in zero gravity.
These projects could help make deep space travel more sustainable—and show just how much India is stepping up its role in global space research.