Exploiting Shubhanshu Shukla's AX-4 Mission: Significant Shift in India's Spaceflight Goals via Shukla's Efforts
India's space exploration ambitions are reaching new heights with the progress of the Gaganyaan Human Spaceflight Programme, a significant step towards achieving strategic autonomy and rulemaking in future space governance regimes.
On 25 June 2025, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla made history as the first Indian astronaut to set foot on the International Space Station (ISS), aboard SpaceX's Crew-Dragon on Axiom-4. This mission provided Shukla with invaluable knowledge in life-support operations, EVA preparation, biomedical data collection, and ISS protocols, which will be crucial for India's future space missions.
The Gaganyaan mission, scheduled for a crewed launch in early 2027, will involve 7 experiments led by Indian labs, focusing on micro-algae, tardigrades, muscle-stem cells, seed sprouting, HCI ergonomics, cyanobacteria nutrition, and crop growth. These experiments aim to expand our understanding of life in space and contribute to the development of high-reliability life-support and re-entry technology, with potential spin-offs in defence, clean-tech, and medical sectors.
Despite the lack of a dedicated aerospace-medicine institute with in-house centrifuge and hypobaric chambers for long-duration flight profiles, India is steadfast in its pursuit of technology sovereignty. The Gaganyaan mission will serve as a valuable rehearsal for India's maiden crewed mission, now scheduled for early 2027. The cost of Shukla's seat on Axiom-4 was significantly less than 3% of India's ₹20,200-crore Gaganyaan outlay, making it an affordable stepping stone towards India's human spaceflight goals.
Looking beyond the Gaganyaan mission, India plans to deploy a 52-tonne national space station named Bharatiya Antariksha Station (BAS) by 2035. This station aims to establish India as a serious contender in human space exploration and will build on experience gained from earlier missions and international collaborations.
India's lunar landing mission is a long-term goal, with concrete missions yet to be detailed. However, the roadmap envisions space station deployment first, followed by crewed lunar and interplanetary missions in the longer term.
Supporting development is ongoing in spacecraft certification, communication infrastructure, and international cooperation (e.g., ISRO-NASA joint experiments). The recent successful participation of Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla in the Axiom-4 mission in 2025 marks a significant step forward in operational readiness and human spaceflight experience for India.
In summary, India's current space exploration roadmap includes ambitious human spaceflight and lunar missions with concrete timelines:
- **Gaganyaan Mission by 2027:** The Gaganyaan program is India's current human spaceflight initiative, aiming to launch crewed spacecraft into low Earth orbit. Despite some delays, ISRO is preparing for uncrewed test flights in 2025, with the first crewed flight tentatively planned for 2026-2027. - **Bharatiya Antariksha Station by 2035:** India plans to deploy a 52-tonne national space station named Bharatiya Antariksha Station (BAS) by 2035 as a follow-up to the Gaganyaan human spaceflight missions. - **Crewed Lunar Landing by 2040:** India's intentions include conducting crewed lunar landings by 2040. While concrete missions are yet to be detailed, the roadmap envisions space station deployment first, followed by crewed lunar and interplanetary missions in the longer term.
These milestones reflect India's growing stature in space exploration and commitment to establishing indigenous capabilities for sustained human presence in space.
- The science and technology gained from the Gaganyaan mission, especially in life-support operations and re-entry technology, have the potential to contribute to various sectors, including defense, clean-tech, and medical industries.
- The development of a 52-tonne national space station, Bharatiya Antariksha Station (BAS), by 2035 is a part of India's long-term goal to strengthen its position in space exploration and establish it as a serious contender in human spaceflight.
- The progress of the Gaganyaan Human Spaceflight Programme and the deployment of Bharatiya Antariksha Station (BAS) will help India achieve strategic autonomy and rulemaking in future space governance regimes.
- Beyond the Gaganyaan mission, India aims to establish a significant presence in space-and-astronomy, including conducting crewed lunar landings by 2040, furthering the country's aspirations in the realm of science and the economy.
