​Shubhanshu Shukla set to make history as India's first astronaut on ISS mission​

Shubhanshu Shukla is set to be the first Indian astronaut to go to the ISS and only the second Indian astronaut after Win Commander (retd) Rakesh Sharma to go to space. As the Group Captain, he is to pilot the Axiom-4 Mission, which will lift off from Kennedy Space Center in Florida on May 29. (Image: Axiom Space)

From left to right: Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski of Poland (ESA), former Nasa astronaut Peggy Whitson, Shubhanshu Shukla of ISRO (India), and Tibor Kapu of Hungary. (Image: PTI)

"Beyond Words": Shubhanshu Shukla's parents were overjoyed at his selection as Nasa mission pilot. The Ax-4 mission features around 60 scientific experiments and activities from 31 countries, including the U.S., India, Poland, Hungary, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Nigeria, the UAE, and several European nations. (Image: ANI)

Shubhanshu Shukla, along with his crew, is set to conduct 7 experiments at the ISS that will focus on nurturing a microgravity research ecosystem within India that will further help in advanced space experiments in the future across various disciplines. (Image: Axiom Space)

The Ax-4 crew is set to launch aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft to the space station and spend up to 14 days at the orbiting laboratory. The crew has been training in different capacities for the past eight months. (Image: Axiom Space)

The Ax-4 crew marked the end of their Nasa training with a patch-hanging ceremony, celebrating months of dedication. Their achievement reflects not only individual perseverance but also the global collaboration powering human space exploration. (Image: Axiom Space)

Ax-4, piloted by Shubhanshu Shukla, has a research complement of around 60 scientific studies, including 7 from India focusing on physical sciences under microgravity conditions. The Ax-4 crew now enters the final phase of preparations ahead of their scheduled May launch, poised to embark on a journey of discovery in low-Earth orbit.