In a momentous milestone for India, Axiom‑4 launched successfully from Kennedy Space Center on June 25, 2025, carrying Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla alongside Peggy Whitson and two others on a 28‑hour voyage to the International Space Station. Shortly after reaching orbit, Shukla delivered a stirring message: "This is not the beginning of my flight but the beginning of India’s human space programme", emphasizing the mission's symbolic national significance .

Travelling at 7.5 km/s with the Indian Tricolor proudly displayed on his suit, he declared, "You all can participate", encouraging collective pride. India's return to human spaceflight after 41 years marks a powerful prelude to the upcoming Gaganyaan mission, with Shukla's real-world microgravity experience seen as invaluable preparation.

The Axiom‑4 mission also carries 60 international experiments - including Indian studies on crops and biology in microgravity - underscoring India’s growing role in orbital research.