Shubhanshu Shukla, an Indian Air Force pilot and astronaut, is all set to fly to the International Space Station (ISS) as part of Axiom Space’s Ax-4 mission. According to a Business Insider report, India has paid $70 million, nearly ₹599 crore, for Shukla’s seat on this private spaceflight.

The steep cost is not just for a seat on the rocket. Axiom Space’s CEO Tejpaul Bhatia told Business Insider that their pricing includes a year-long program to train private astronauts. “The cost is not only for a seat,” he explained.

Private astronauts on Axiom missions are trained based on NASA standards, though the training isn’t as intense as what NASA astronauts go through. Axiom itself doesn’t build the rockets but contracts companies like SpaceX to launch the missions.

Shukla won’t be alone on this trip. He will fly with:

  • Peggy Whitson, a retired NASA astronaut

  • Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski, a mission specialist from Poland

  • Tibor Kapu, a mission specialist from Hungary

This international crew will live and work on the ISS for two weeks, much longer than other tourist-style space trips.

Why is Axiom so expensive?

While Axiom Space charges $70 million for its missions, other companies offer spaceflights at a fraction of the cost:

  • Blue Origin asks for a $150,000 deposit; one ticket once sold for $28 million

  • Virgin Galactic’s earlier ticket prices were about $600,000

But there’s a big difference: Axiom missions go all the way to the ISS and last two weeks, while Blue Origin’s recent trip lasted only 11 minutes.

Shukla’s journey — A historic moment for India

Shukla’s mission marks India’s return to space after 41 years. The last Indian in space was Rakesh Sharma, who flew aboard a Soviet spacecraft in 1984 as part of the Interkosmos programme.

Unlike past astronauts who trained with foreign agencies, Shukla’s mission is backed entirely by ISRO and reflects India's growing role in global space exploration.

According to CEO Tejpaul Bhatia, Axiom’s private astronaut program isn’t just for billionaires. “The private astronaut seat is open to countries, space agencies, researchers, organisations, and individuals,” he said.

India’s partnership with Axiom is a clear example of that vision becoming a reality.

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