Axiom 4: India's return back to space

July 11, 2025

We are at a turning point in the era of space exploration, and privatisation of the space sector. While India is capping a negligible fraction of the space economy, which is expected to touch the $1.8 trillion mark by 2040, I am sure that Shubhanshu's endeavours will not just encourage and facilitate new startups, but also inspire a generation of young boys and girls to take interest in space and astronomy, and other STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) related areas.

Meanwhile lets thump our chests with pride, and pray that the Indian mission pilot for Ax-4, group captain Shubhanshu Shukla, and his crew mates Peggy Whitson (USA), Tibor Kapu (Hungary) and Sławosz Uznański-Wísniewski (poland) return back home safe and sound with lots of stories, photos, happy memories and lessons!

Group captain Subhanshu Shukla became the second Indian in space, and the first one on the international space station (ISS), a feat India achieved after 40 decades of waiting. For someone who, for as long as I remember, regretted the fact that age became a barrier to witness the occassion, or appreciate it, it gave me goosebumps to think that I am here now! Witnessing this milestone moment, and experiencing the joy and pride that every Indian felt on June 25, 2025.

Axiom Space's 4th private mission, is not just special for India but the world. With over 30 countries contributing 60+ experiments to be conducted in microgravity, this mission is symbolic of global cooperation and scientific harmony, which goes beyond national borders and diplomatic relationships between the countries of the world.

Space exploration is entering a new chapter with corporations like Axiom space and Space X being at its forefront, and India-based Skyroot Aerospace not far behind. Since it has become prohibitively expensive to go into space, it is not surprising to see privatisation of space missions, where national space agencies like NASA and ISRO are partnering with private organisations, to make their presence felt in space.

But even though space is infinite, it is not infinitely habitable. The low earth orbit (LEO; around 400 km from the surface of Earth), therefore plays a critical role for conducting microgravity research. Currently, it is occupied by the ISS and the chinese space station, Tiangong since 2022. But as the ISS progresses towards its journey to retirement, Axiom is building the world's first commercial space station which will be open to the world to attach their module and use the facilities at will.

I loom at it like a new market for real estate opening up! Of course there is limited real estate, and hence a rush to book a place as soon as possible. But there is also an opportunity to dream bigger and newer dreams even without worrying about all the details of how to make them possible. For instance, while India is running a very intensive space programme, right now it is not up and running. But despite that Shubhanshu is in the orbit on the ISS, living a life and getting experiences which will be invaluable for the Gaganyan mission - India's human spaceflight programme, and later when the Antariksh space station gets into orbit at the end of the decade.