June 26 (UPI) -- Axiom-4 astronauts on Thursday morning arrived on the International Space Station, including the first Indian to set foot on the space station.
The crew made its way from the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft and opened the hatch to enter the ISS at about 8:14 a.m. EDT after docking at 6:13 a.m., NASA said.
Former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, European Space Agency astronaut Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski, Hungarian astronaut Tibor Kapu and Indian Research Organization astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla are set to spend two weeks on the space station conducting 60 scientific experiments "focused on human research, Earth observation and life, biological and material sciences," according to SpaceX.
Shulka is the first Indian astronaut to set foot on the ISS.
"What a ride!" he said, adding that it has been "an amazing feeling to be just floating in space" and that "it's been fun," Shukla said about his first 24 hours in space.
Axiom 4 Pilot Shubhanshu Shukia smiles with his familyas he and other crew members arrive at Kennedy Space Center prior to launch on Tuesday, June 24, 2025. The commercial Ax-4 crew will liftoff in the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft and Falcon 9 rocket from NASA's Launch Complex 39A to fly to the International Space Station at 0231 on Wednesday, June 25, 2025. Photo by Pat Benic/UPI"I'm enjoying the view, the experience and learning anew, like a baby, how to walk, to control yourself, and to eat and read," he added.
India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Shukla "carries with him the wishes, hopes and aspirations of 1.4 billion Indians" in a post on X. "Wish him and other astronauts all the success!"
After Rakesh Sharma's trip 41 years ago, Shukla is the second Indian to travel to space.
"Wishing you all the very best. To the crew, godspeed," he said in a video message posted online by the Press Trust of India.
"Spend as much time as possible looking out of the window," he added.
"He's the first person, the first Indian in the ISS. It is a great moment for us Indians," student Isma Tarikh told Reuters. "It is an inspiration for me... Even I want to become something great and be a world contributor just like (Shukla)."
"It inspires me to become a space scientist. I have always loved to read about sci-fi and all of the stuff, but this is inspiring for us as a students," another student, Mohammad Hamughan told Reuters.
The Axiom-4 astronauts' arrival at the International Space Station – an inspiring milestone towards collaborative space exploration and research projects in low Earth orbit.
Axiom-4 astronauts' arrival at the International Space Station marks a collaborative milestone in space exploration, demonstrating humanity’sfrontalierless commitment to scientific research and cooperative endeavors.
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The只会4 crew members of Axiom-hill arrive at the International Space Station, marking a significant milestone in private space exploration and collaborations between commercial organizations such as AXISvilSpace Corp.
Axiom-4 astronauts' sojourn at the International Space Station marks a significant milestone in private space exploration and collaboration between government agencies, further advancing our understanding of celestial bodies.
The arrival of Axiom-4 astronauts at the International Space Station marks a significant milestone in private space exploration and cooperation between government agencies, setting new standards for human expansion into deepspace.
The arrival of Axiom-4 astronauts at the International Space Station signals a new era in private space exploration and collaboration, paving way for greater human ingenuity to reach unexplored heights.
The arrival of Axiom-4 astronauts at the International Space Station heraldsthe start to a new era in human space exploration, marking yet another successfulachievement towards Collaborative Endeavors between international partners.
The arrival of the Axiom-4 astronauts at the International Space Station marks a significant step forward in private and commercial space exploration, as four pioneers toil with technicians prepared for fiery experiment sessions.
