As the world watches the International Space Station orbit above us, a historic mission awaits its moment to launch. The Axiom 4 mission, which is presently delayed but is on the brink of takeoff, is far more than just another routine trip to space. International cooperation, scientific discovery, and our collective future among the stars could be reshaped if this mission is effective, marking a transformative chapter in humanity’s relationship with the cosmos.
The most remarkable feature of Axiom 4 is its unprecedented international composition. Commander Peggy Whitson of Axiom Space, Pilot Shubhanshu Shukla of India’s Space Research Organisation, and Mission Specialists Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski of Poland and Tibor Kapu of Hungary comprise the four-member crew. For a profound reason, this configuration is historically significant: it represents the first government-sponsored human spaceflight mission for India, Poland, and Hungary in more than four decades.
The symbolic significance of this collaboration is immeasurable. At a time when global tensions frequently dominate headlines, Axiom 4 illustrates that space exploration remains one of humanity’s most unifying endeavours. Nations with drastically different economic capabilities, geographic locations, and cultural backgrounds are united by a shared mission, but they are also brought together by a common vision of scientific advancement and exploration. This cooperation paradigm has the potential to serve as a model for future international partnerships, demonstrating that space can be a domain in which diplomatic boundaries dissolve in favour of shared human ambition.
The mission’s greatest significance may be its ability to democratise space access for emerging space nations. In the past, human spaceflight has been the exclusive domain of superpowers with extensive budgets and decades of experience. This paradigm is disrupted by Axiom 4, which offers lesser nations a means to access space through commercial partnerships.
For India, despite its impressive achievements with lunar and Mars missions, this represents a crucial milestone in human spaceflight capability. India is set to embark on a new chapter in its spacefaring journey with the forthcoming Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4), a moment as significant as Rakesh Sharma’s 1984 mission. Not only is the International Space Station (ISS) the destination of this flight, but the pilot who is conducting the expedition is Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla of the Indian Air Force, rendering it historic.
After 41 years, an Indian will once again observe Earth from space, this time as a co-pilot on a private, multinational mission that officially marks India’s entrance into the commercial spaceflight era. As India’s first astronaut to board the ISS and only the second ever Indian in space, Shukla is not just piloting a spacecraft — he is carrying the collective dreams of 1.4 billion people. His statement, “I carry hopes and dreams of a billion hearts,” resonates deeply in a country where science and aspiration are now more intertwined than ever.
The mission represents India’s emergence as a collaborative partner in global space science, in addition to its national pride. NASA, ESA, ISRO, and SpaceX collaborated to execute the Ax-4 voyage, which is managed by Houston-based Axiom Space. ISRO has not only acquired a seat in space but also a stake in long-term strategic positioning, training, and knowledge, with a $59 million investment.
The timing of the mission is crucial. Shukla’s Ax-4 experience serves as an indispensable trial run for the Gaganyaan mission, which is scheduled to launch in 2027 and will be India’s inaugural human spaceflight. His participation in 60 scientific investigations (seven of which were conducted in India), involvement in ISS operations, and training will provide invaluable data and insights. These studies include groundbreaking research on the biology of tardigrades in space, the cultivation of crops and phytoplankton in microgravity, and the investigation of human cognition in a zero-gravity environment. This research has far-reaching implications that extend beyond national borders and into the future of human existence in space. The microgravity conditions aboard the International Space Station offer unique opportunities to conduct experiments that are not possible on Earth. The potential discoveries from this mission could benefit millions of people on Earth, ranging from pharmaceutical research that could lead to new medicines, to materials science investigations that could revolutionise manufacturing, and biological studies that could unlock secrets of human adaptation in space.
India’s objective of establishing a space station by 2035 and a lunar mission by 2040 is no longer perceived as unrealistic. Although Group Captain Shukla may be in orbit above the Earth, his mission is deeply rooted in India’s future space missions. In addition to fulfilling his responsibilities on the International Space Station, he also inspires a nation to become a pioneer in the cosmos, rather than merely a participant. And that, perhaps, is the genuine launch that we are witnessing—one that is poised to propel India even further into orbit.
As we await the rescheduled launch of Axiom 4, we are witnessing more than a technical endeavour. The implications are not limited to national pride. The global pool of scientific talent, cultural perspectives, and innovative approaches expands exponentially as more countries acquire direct access to space research and exploration. This diversity of experience and thought will be invaluable as humanity confronts the intricate challenges of establishing permanent settlements beyond Earth.
Biju Dharmapalan
(Dr.Biju Dharmapalan is the Dean -Academic Affairs, Garden City University, Bangalore and an adjunct faculty at the National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bangalore.
Sunday, July 13, 2025