Axiom-4 mission fuelled India's dream of building its own space station: Shubhanshu Shukla

Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, who became the first first Indian on the International Space Station, earlier this year, said the Axiom-4 mission opened up path to microgravity research, fuelled India's dream of building its own space station.

While speaking at the National Space Day celebrations at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, Shukla said space has the capability of transcending borders and unifying nature

"When I was flying in the International Space Station around the Earth 16 times a day for about eighteen days, I got to see the planet from so many different angles and views that I really felt I came to know the entire planet. The description 'down to Earth up in space' is very apt. I got to know this planet much better by traveling to space and seeing it from the outside in... Space really has this transformational capability of transcending borders and unifying nature, and I feel very fortunate to have experienced it," the astronaut said.

Earlier in the day, Shukla said that India could be on the moon in 2040 and shared a model of the "Bharatiya Antariskh Station:.

Excited to be back with the team. I am thrilled to see the excitement around the national space day. With our eyes set on the moon in 2040 I am convinced we have the right mindset to achieve the ambitious goal.
In the background you see the prototype of the first module of the… pic.twitter.com/bJHkAenKrT

— Shubhanshu Shukla (@gagan_shux) August 23, 2025

The Gaganyan mission
The National Space Day's theme is 'Aryabhatta to Gaganyaan: Ancient Wisdom to Infinite Possibilities'. The mission is scheduled to be launched in December 2025

India’s Gaganyaan astronauts reflected on the lessons spaceflight holds for life on Earth, stating how stepping beyond our planet offers not just scientific breakthroughs but also a renewed sense of responsibility and unity.

Meanwhile, Ganagnyan Group Captain Angad Pratap said, “Anyone working in aerospace naturally thinks about the future, whether on the Moon or Mars. But what strikes me whenever I meet astronauts or cosmonauts is that there are no barriers of nationality. Space exploration is about broadening our vision and finding collective solutions for humanity’s future.”

Further Group Captain Ajit Krishnan siad space activities must benefit Earth. “For anything and everything we do in space, there has to be some usefulness back on Earth—otherwise there is no point. Human spaceflight in India is still very new, and there are so many unknowns. We need to approach this journey with humility and without ego.”