Shubhanshu Shukla, the Group Captain at Axiom-4 mission, became the second Indian to travel to space and the first to reach the International Space Station (ISS) as part of a private space mission. The SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule, which carried four astronauts under the Ax-4 mission, has successfully docked with the ISS at 4:03 PM IST on Thursday, June 26.
The docking marks the end of a 28-hour journey from NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre in Florida.
At 5:44 PM IST, the hatch between SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft and the International Space Station officially opened, marking the moment the Axiom-4 crew, including India’s Shubhanshu Shukla, stepped aboard the ISS to begin their 14-day mission in space.
How does the docking work in space?
- Before docking, the spacecraft must match the ISS's orbit and speed.
- This complex process, called rendezvous, involves synchronising the spacecraft's location and velocity.
- Once aligned, a series of slow manoeuvres brings the capsule close to the ISS to allow a secure connection.
At 4:03 PM IST, Mission Control confirmed a 'soft capture'—the initial contact where the spacecraft gently connects to the ISS to absorb motion energy. A few minutes later, a ‘hard capture’ was achieved, securing the capsule with a firm physical lock using 12 hooks (in two sets of 6) to ensure complete structural stability.
Why do astronauts not enter the space station immediately after docking? What is the role of depressurisation?
Even after docking, astronauts are not supposed to enter the ISS right away.
- The connecting space between the ISS and the Dragon capsule must be depressurised and pressure-equalised.
- This ensures no air leaks or pressure imbalances, which could be dangerous for the crew.
- This process takes around 2 hours, usually, which involves sealing both ends, slowly adjusting air pressure to match the ISS’s internal environment, and running safety checks.
Only after these steps can the hatch be safely opened, scheduled around 6:10 PM IST.
Historic liftoff from Apollo 11 launchpad: India in space after 41 years!
The Ax-4 mission lifted off at 12:01 PM IST on Wednesday from Launch Complex 39A—the same site used in NASA's historic Apollo 11 mission. Though delayed multiple times due to weather and technical issues, the launch finally succeeded, pushing India back into space exploration after 41 years since Rakesh Sharma.
Shubhanshu Shukla's mother overwhelmed with emotion during historic docking
As Shubhanshu Shukla's spacecraft successfully docked with the International Space Station, his mother, Asha Shukla, was visibly emotional. Overcome with pride and joy, she was seen wiping away tears as she witnessed her son's historic achievement. The heartfelt moment captured the spirit of national pride, as India marked its return to human spaceflight after 41 years.
Scenes from Shubhanshu Shukla’s hometown, where his peers have been cheering for the historic docking
There were live visuals from Shubhanshu Shukla’s hometown, and there was an atmosphere of pride and excitement as his spacecraft docked with the International Space Station. Students, along with their parents and teachers, have gathered to witness the historic moment.
The crowd was visibly thrilled and inspired, celebrating India’s return to space after four decades through one of their own.
Union Minister Jitendra Singh congratulates astronaut Shukla for the successful docking
Jitendra Singh took to the mode of X (formerly known as Twitter) to extend his wishes to the Indian astronaut after the successful docking of the Axiom-4 mission with the International Space Station.
He wrote, "Congratulations #Axiom4! Docking was successful. Shubhanshu now stands at the gateway of the International Space Station #ISS… ready to begin a 14-day space journey… as the entire world watches with pride and anticipation."
“A moment of pride for every Indian”, Shubhanshu Shukla's mother
Following the successful docking of Axiom Mission 4 with the International Space Station, Asha Shukla (mother of Shubhanshu Shukla), expressed her joy and pride.
“The docking has been successful. It’s a moment of immense pride for the entire nation. We are extremely happy. We prayed every day for this moment,” she said emotionally.
“We pray to God that he fulfils his mission successfully and returns to Earth safely. All the credit goes to my son—his hard work, dedication, and determination have brought him to this height,” she added.
“God has truly blessed our son”, Shubhanshu Shukla’s father
After the successful docking of Axiom Mission 4 with the ISS, Shukla’s father, Shambhu Dayal Shukla shared his heartfelt reaction.
“We are feeling overjoyed and proud. The docking was successful, and our son has reached a major milestone,” he said.
He further added, “We had prayed continuously, and today we feel that God has truly blessed our son. Our entire family is filled with gratitude and happiness.”
"We prayed every day... Today, that moment has come", Astronaut’s sister on docking success
Shukla’s sister, Shuchi Mishra, shared an emotional message by saying, “We had been waiting for this moment for many days and prayed every single day for a safe launch and successful docking,” she said.
She further added, “Today, that moment has finally arrived. We are incredibly happy and proud of him. Reaching this point is no easy feat—it demands years of hard work, immense effort, and complete dedication. Shubhanshu gave it his all, and that’s what brought him here.”