Axiom-4 and Beyond: India’s Evolving Role in Global Space Missions

Context:

India is on the verge of entering an elite group of nations with human spaceflight capability. The participation of Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla in the Axiom-4 mission to the International Space Station (ISS) marks a significant step in this direction. Though the mission was not led by ISRO, it holds strategic importance for India’s space ambitions, especially as the country prepares for the Gaganyaan mission.

Significance of Shubhanshu Shukla’s Participation in Axiom-4

• Historic milestone: Shukla’s presence aboard the ISS marks the first time an Indian astronaut has participated in a commercial international space mission.

• Symbolic and strategic: It symbolizes the beginning of India’s human spaceflight era, even though the mission was not indigenous.

• Not an isolated event: This mission acts as a stepping stone toward India’s own crewed mission, Gaganyaan, scheduled for 2027.

Strategic Importance for ISRO and Gaganyaan

• Bridging experience gap:

  • Shukla was originally selected for Gaganyaan.

  • His participation in Axiom-4 allows India to gain operational exposure to international launch systems and mission protocols.

• Enhancing preparedness:

  • Helps refine safety procedures, training modules, and astronaut support systems.

• Team involvement: An ISRO team supported the mission, providing valuable learning on launch integration and operations.

Global Human Spaceflight Landscape and India’s Position

• Current global status:

  • Only three countries have independent human spaceflight capability: USA, Russia, and China.

• India’s goal: India is on course to become the fourth nation with this capability.

• Strategic autonomy:

  • Without human spaceflight capability, India remains dependent on foreign platforms.

  • This limits India's role in planetary exploration and deep space missions.

India’s Vision for the Future of Space Exploration

• Private sector growth in LEO:

  • The Low Earth Orbit (LEO) (200–2,000 km altitude) is increasingly crowded with commercial satellites, mostly from private firms.

  • This frees ISRO to focus on deep space exploration.

• Own space station by 2035:

  • As the ISS is set to retire by 2030, India plans to launch its own space station by 2035.

  • This could position India as a leading space power in the post-ISS era.

Technological and Institutional Developments

• Training infrastructure gaps:

  • Shukla and other Indian astronauts were trained in Russia and NASA.

  • This highlights the need for India’s own astronaut training centre.

• Planned outcome:

  • India aims to establish domestic training infrastructure that could also serve international astronauts in the future.

• R&D potential:

  • Human spaceflight enables microgravity experiments, crucial for innovation in medicine, biotechnology, and material science.

Geopolitical and Diplomatic Implications

• Strengthening space diplomacy:

  • India’s involvement in Axiom-4 reflects enhanced India–US cooperation in space technology.

• Strategic leverage:

  • Human spaceflight capability will give India greater bargaining power in future multilateral missions and global space policies.

• Soft power projection: Positions India as a credible and independent space actor on the global stage.

Conclusion

Shubhanshu Shukla’s journey aboard Axiom-4 is more than a symbolic achievement—it represents a critical inflection point in India's transformation from a space-faring nation to a space power.
With Gaganyaan on the horizon, plans for an Indian space station by 2035, and increasing involvement in global missions, India is consolidating its strategic, scientific, and diplomatic influence in space.