
In a landmark moment for India and Poland, NASA and its international partners overseeing operations aboard the International Space Station (ISS) have confirmed the crew for Axiom Mission Four (Ax-4)—the fourth commercial astronaut mission to the ISS by Axiom Space. This historic mission, set to launch no earlier than spring 2025 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Kennedy Space Center in Florida, will feature a multinational crew, including astronauts from India, Poland, Hungary, and the United States.
One of the most notable names on this mission is Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, a highly accomplished pilot from the Indian Air Force (IAF), who has been designated as the pilot for Ax-4. Shukla’s selection marks a significant milestone for India’s growing presence in human spaceflight. He will be accompanied by mission specialists Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski of Poland and Tibor Kapu of Hungary, under the command of former NASA astronaut and Axiom Space’s director of human spaceflight, Peggy Whitson.
India’s Shubhanshu Shukla: Soaring to New Heights
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla’s inclusion in Ax-4 is a moment of national pride for India. Shukla, born on October 10, 1985, in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, has had a distinguished career in the IAF. Commissioned into the fighter wing in June 2006, he has accumulated over 2,000 hours of flight experience across various aircraft, including the Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, MiG-29, Jaguar, Hawk, Dornier, and An-32. His exceptional skills and dedication earned him the rank of group captain in March 2024.
In 2019, Shukla was selected for rigorous astronaut training at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Moscow. His training and expertise positioned him as a key candidate for India’s ambitious Gaganyaan mission, the country’s first human spaceflight program, scheduled for 2025. On February 27, 2024, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi officially introduced Shukla as one of the astronauts training for Gaganyaan, cementing his place in India’s space history. Ax-4 will serve as an essential precursor to his role in India’s broader space ambitions.

Poland’s Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski: A Trailblazer in Space Exploration
For Poland, the inclusion of Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski in Ax-4 represents another giant leap in the country’s space journey. As a highly skilled engineer and astronaut candidate, Uznański-Wiśniewski has played an integral role in Poland’s space sector, contributing significantly to research in microgravity and aerospace technology. His participation in this mission signals Poland’s growing involvement in international space collaboration and exploration.
A New Era of Multinational Space Collaboration
Ax-4 marks the second human spaceflight mission for India, Poland, and Hungary, with Shukla, Uznański-Wiśniewski, and Kapu becoming the first astronauts from their respective countries to live and work on the ISS. During their two-week stay aboard the orbital laboratory, they will conduct groundbreaking microgravity research and test new technologies that could pave the way for future deep-space exploration.
India and Poland’s participation in this mission underscores their commitment to space exploration and innovation. It highlights the global nature of modern space travel, where international cooperation is key to advancing scientific discovery and technological progress.
As the world anticipates the launch of Ax-4, India and Poland stand proud, celebrating the achievements of their astronauts who will soon make history beyond Earth’s atmosphere.
