Axiom 4: Intersections of Science, Society and Governance

A historic mission that breaks the state monopoly on space exploration, inspires Indian self-reliance, and advances the boundaries of science in orbit.

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The Axiom-4 mission, which included Indian-origin astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, was more than a scientific success-it was a diplomatic one as well.

The space race was once the exclusive domain of Cold War superpowers such as the United States and the Soviet Union. Now, missions such as Axiom-4 symbolize a new reality: no country controls space. Instead, cooperative yet competitive private space companies have developed, spreading glory while each constituency looks for a strategic advantage.

Lessons from a Private Frontier

This was not another space mission; it was history inscribed in orbit. Four astronauts, one private firm, and a lab 400 kilometers above Earth. Axiom-4 showed that the future of space exploration is not about planting flags-it is about building alliances. Indian-origin astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, accompanied by Commander Peggy Whitson, Polish mission specialist Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski, and Hungarian mission specialist Tibor Kapu, made up the core of this mission. This was no space race, only a space relay where soft power found a new stage in orbit, converting scientific success into diplomatic currency.

Economic Ripples: The Orbit as a Marketplace