Shubhanshu Shukla’s participation in the Axiom mission makes India achieve human spaceflight again after around 40 years.

Indian Air Force Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla will make space history as the second Indian to go into space, as his Axiom Space Inc. Ax-4 flight is now planned for June 10. A 14-day commercial orbital space mission will launch in Florida atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and go to the International Space Station.

Shukla will travel alongside three astronauts from other countries, making India’s first mission with a human crew since 1984. Sharma inspired Shukla and the Gaganyaan mission announcement from India also encouraged him to pursue his dreams of reaching space.

On the mission, Shukla will carry out seven experiments about how gravity and interaction with technology affect microalgae and humans in space. He plans to meet and interact with Indians and the ISS academics, saying his journey is in honor of “a billion dreams.”

The Ax-4 team has Peggy Whitson, Sławosz Uznański and Tibor Kapu on board. Both reflect nations going back into space after many years. A cute element was added by naming the Zero G indicator a swan named Joy.

With India making a strong return in the global race for space, Shukla’s mission reflects the pride of the nation and its plans for the future in space.