India has made a significant stride in its space program by procuring a \$70 million ticket to space through Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4). This endeavor signifies a new era of space exploration for the nation, characterized by government-to-business-to-government cooperation, paving the path for future international collaborations in both space exploration and commercial utilization.

Axiom Mission 4: A Historic Collaboration

Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4), a private spaceflight to the International Space Station (ISS) operated by Axiom Space, launched on June 25, 2025, at 2:31 a.m. EDT from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The mission is a collaborative effort between Axiom Space, SpaceX, and NASA. The mission's crew includes Commander Peggy Whitson, Pilot Shubhanshu Shukla from India, Mission Specialist Sławosz Uznański from Poland, and Mission Specialist Tibor Kapu from Hungary. The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket propelled the Crew Dragon Grace spacecraft into low Earth orbit. Docking with the ISS occurred on June 26, 2025, marking the commencement of a planned two-week stay.

Shubhanshu Shukla: Carrying India's Space Ambitions

Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla of the Indian Air Force is the second Indian to journey into space, following Rakesh Sharma's mission in 1984, and the first to visit the International Space Station. Selected under the Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) Human Spaceflight Programme, Shukla serves as the Mission Pilot for Ax-4. His role involves operational readiness, adaptation to microgravity, and conducting advanced scientific experiments in space biology and life support systems. Shukla's selection for the Axiom Mission 4 happened because of the vision of the Hon'ble Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi. It was under his guidance that the foundation was laid for this joint collaboration between ISRO and the United States.

Scientific Objectives and Experiments

The Ax-4 mission is dedicated to conducting a wide array of scientific research, technology demonstrations, and outreach activities. The mission emphasizes scientific portfolios led by the U.S., India, Poland (in partnership with ESA), and Hungary, aiming to boost participation in these countries by involving diverse stakeholders, showcasing the value of microgravity research, and fostering international collaboration. Shukla is performing experiments developed by ISRO and Indian institutions, focusing on the cognitive effects of screen use, microbial adaptation, muscle atrophy, and crop resilience in microgravity. He is also conducting pioneering studies on edible microalgae, exploring their growth under microgravity and space radiation, alongside research on cyanobacteria like Spirulina and Synechococcus for self-sustaining life support systems. Another key experiment is the ISRO-led Voyager Tardigrades, investigating the resilience of tardigrades in space to uncover molecular mechanisms for surviving extreme environments.

India's Broader Space Program

India's space ambitions extend beyond the Axiom Mission 4, with the Gaganyaan Programme aiming to develop indigenous human spaceflight capabilities. The Gaganyaan Programme, backed by a ₹20,193 crore budget, aims to develop and validate technologies for safe crewed missions, with a vision to establish the Bharatiya Antariksh Station by 2035 and achieve a crewed lunar landing by 2040. The uncrewed Gaganyaan mission, featuring the Vyommitra robot, is slated for December 2025, paving the way for a manned mission in early 2027. ISRO is also advancing lunar exploration with Chandrayaan-4, aiming to return lunar samples, and Chandrayaan-5, a collaborative mission with Japan.

Commercial Spaceflight and International Collaboration

India's nearly $70 million investment in Axiom Mission 4 highlights a new framework of government-to-business-to-government cooperation. This approach allows India to secure access to critical experience, operational know-how, and scientific opportunities without the immediate need to own or operate expensive orbital hardware. The mission serves as a crucial training ground for ISRO astronauts, providing hands-on experience in international crew integration, medical and psychological preparation, real-time health telemetry, experiment execution, and crew-ground coordination. This mission marks the return to human spaceflight for India, Poland, and Hungary, each nation's first government-sponsored flight in more than 40 years. The Ax-4 mission stands as a beacon of opportunity for India, Poland, and Hungary, each poised to leverage this mission to advance their national space programs.