Axiom Mission 4 marks a historic milestone as Indian Air Force Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla becomes the second Indian national to travel to space after 40 years. Launched aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, the Ax-4 mission includes astronauts from India, Poland, and Hungary — all visiting the ISS for the first time. As a mission pilot, Shukla plays a key role in the 14-day research-driven mission. From cutting-edge microgravity experiments to India’s rising presence in global space exploration, here’s all about the Axiom 4 mission.

India is back in space — after 41 years, through the Axiom-4 Mission. Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, a decorated Indian Air Force pilot, has made history by becoming the first Indian to board NASA’s International Space Station (ISS) and only the second Indian ever to travel to space, after Rakesh Sharma in 1984. Here is all about his incredible journey of how a boy from Lucknow became India’s latest space hero. From flying fighter jets to training at Russia’s Star City, to being chosen for ISRO’s Gaganyaan mission, Shukla’s journey is nothing short of inspiring. Take a look.