Shubhanshu creates history, becomes first Indian to enter International Space Station; two weeks of experiments await Indian astronaut

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a historic moment that stirred the pride of 140 crore Indians, astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla became the first Indian to enter the International Space Station (ISS). Shubhanshu, part of a four-member crew, entered the space station yesterday evening at 6 PM IST, marking a milestone for India’s space journey. He wore an Indian national flag on his chest as he entered the space station. He will now spend the next two weeks aboard the ISS, conducting various scientific experiments and research.

The mission began on Wednesday at 12:01 PM IST, when SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft lifted off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre in Florida. After a journey of 28 hours, the spacecraft reached the vicinity of the ISS at 3:59 PM IST yesterday. The capsule initially stabilised five meters from the station before gradually approaching and docking with the Harmony module. The hard capture process was successfully completed, as confirmed by SpaceX’s live feed.

The Crew Dragon capsule was secured to the ISS using 12 hooks. Following the docking, the team carried out configuration processes, known as soft capture, integrating the spacecraft’s communication systems with the ISS network.

Pressure leak checks were then conducted, after which NASA’s Mission Control in Houston sent a warm welcome to Shubhanshu and the crew. Nearly two hours post-docking, the astronauts officially entered the space station.

Shubhanshu’s fellow crewmates include Peggy Whitson from the United States, Sławosz Uznański from Poland, and Tibor Kapu from Hungary.

A prelude to Gaganyaan: Gaining vital experience Shubhanshu Shukla is also the designated commander for India’s upcoming Gaganyaan mission. His time aboard the ISS is a vital learning experience, intended to ensure the success of India’s first crewed spaceflight and to lay the groundwork for future human space exploration missions. While Indian-origin astronauts like Sunita Williams have previously been to the ISS, Shubhamshu is the first Indian national to do so since Rakesh Sharma’s historic flight in 1984.

"I’m thrilled beyond words. As I sat strapped inside the capsule on the launch pad, I felt a deep calm — as if my heart whispered, ‘This is it, we’re going.’ What followed was a powerful surge... the launch was awe-inspiring. I’ve been learning everything like a child. Apparently, I slept for quite a while in the capsule yesterday — that’s what my crewmates told me," said Shubhanshu in his first message from space.