India, Dec 23 : The Indian Air Force on Tuesday congratulated Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla on being honoured as the “Man of the Year” by The Week magazine in its December 21, 2025 edition, recognising his landmark role as the mission pilot of Axiom-4 (Ax-4) to the International Space Station (ISS).
Axiom-4 is the fourth private astronaut mission conducted by US-based Axiom Space in collaboration with NASA and SpaceX. The mission comprised four astronauts Shubhanshu Shukla (India), Peggy Whitson (USA), Sławosz Uznański (Poland) and Tibor Kapu (Hungary)with each participant representing their country’s first-ever mission to the ISS.
Launched in June 2025 aboard the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft, the Ax-4 mission made Shukla the first Indian astronaut to visit the ISS and only the second Indian to travel to space after Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma’s historic flight in 1984.
Originally planned as a 14-day mission, Ax-4 was extended to 18 days, during which Shukla conducted multiple STEM experiments, documented daily life aboard the space station and interacted with students and young researchers in India to inspire interest in science and space exploration.
His successful return highlighted not only his professional excellence but also India’s expanding role in global human spaceflight. Officials said the mission aligns with India’s long-term ambitions, including the proposed Bharatiya Antariksh Station and the ongoing Gaganyaan programme.