Axiom 4 Mission: Shubhanshu Shukla’s Omega Watches Steal the Show

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Imagine soaring into the cosmos, carrying the dreams of a billion people on your shoulders, with a trusty Omega Speedmaster ticking on your wrist. That’s exactly what Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla did as he became the first Indian to step aboard the International Space Station (ISS) during the Axiom 4 Mission on June 25, 2025. As the second Indian to venture into space since Rakesh Sharma’s historic 1984 flight, Shukla’s journey is a tale of grit, ambition, and a touch of horological elegance. With Shubhanshu Shukla’s Omega watch as his companion, he’s not just made history, in fact he’s redefined what it means to reach for the stars. This blog dives into Shukla’s inspiring story, the iconic watches he wore, and Omega’s legendary role in space exploration.

Shubhanshu Shukla – The Man on Mission

Picture a kid from Lucknow, gazing at the night sky, dreaming of touching the stars. That’s where Shubhanshu Shukla’s story begins. Born on October 10, 1985, in Uttar Pradesh, Shukla didn’t just chase dreams, he flew towards them, quite literally. A fighter pilot with the Indian Air Force (IAF), he’s spent years mastering the skies in jets like the Sukhoi Su-30MKI and MiG-21, clocking over 2,000 hours of flight time. But it was his nerves of steel and sharp mind that caught the eye of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in 2019, when he was picked for the Gaganyaan program—India’s bold leap into crewed space missions.

Shukla’s journey to space wasn’t a straight shot. He trained relentlessly, first at Russia’s Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center, then at ISRO’s cutting-edge facility in Bengaluru. Just imagine him enduring grueling simulations, mastering spacecraft systems, and preparing for the unknown, all while carrying the weight of a nation’s aspirations. By August 2024, he was named the mission pilot for the Axiom 4 Mission, a collaboration between NASA, SpaceX, ISRO, and Axiom Space. As second-in-command to NASA veteran Peggy Whitson, Shukla helped navigate the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft “Grace” to the ISS, where he spent two weeks conducting experiments that could shape the future of space exploration. From studying crop resilience to muscle health in microgravity, his work is paving the way for India’s lunar dreams by 2040. With a warm “Namaskar from space,” Shukla reminded us all that he’s not just an astronaut—he’s a storyteller for a billion hearts.

Shubhanshu Shukla’s Axiom 4 Mission

Shukla’s mission is an inspiration and a guiding light for the dreamers everywhere. His “Namaskar from space” and the toy swan “Joy” floating in zero gravity—a nod to wisdom, purity, and loyalty—captured hearts worldwide. At an estimated ₹548 crore, the Axiom 4 Mission wasn’t just a flight; it was India’s bold step toward a space station by 2035 and a lunar landing by 2040. Shukla’s experiments, from seeds to muscles, are building blocks for humanity’s future among the stars.

With Shubhanshu Shukla’s Omega watch keeping time, his journey weaves together science, ambition, and a touch of elegance. As he said, this isn’t just his story—it’s the dawn of India’s spacefaring era. So, the next time you glance at your watch, think of Shukla, orbiting 400 kilometers above, proving that with the right tools and a fearless heart, the sky’s no limit.

Watches that Accompanied Shubhanshu on Axiom 4 Mission

When you’re hurtling through space, time isn’t just a concept it’s a lifeline. On the mission, Shubhanshu Shukla’s Omega watch was more than a stylish accessory; it was a piece of history strapped to his wrist. Omega, a brand that’s been to the moon and back, equipped Shukla with two iconic timepieces for the Axiom 4 Mission. Here’s a closer look at the watches that joined him among the stars.

Omega Speedmaster X-33 Skywalker

Reference Number: 318.90.45.79.01.001

The Omega Speedmaster X-33 Skywalker, reference number 318.90.45.79.01.001 is the kind of watch that feels like it was born for space. Worn by Shukla aboard the Dragon spacecraft, this titanium-clad marvel blends analog elegance with digital precision. It’s built to handle the chaos of space, think about radiation, zero gravity, and wild temperature swings. With features like mission elapsed time and universal time, it’s a co-pilot in its own right, helping Shukla keep track of critical moments like docking with the ISS at 4:15 PM IST on June 26, 2025. Shubhanshu Shukla’s Omega watch wasn’t just keeping time; it was keeping him on course, a nod to the legacy of astronauts who’ve trusted Omega since NASA gave it the thumbs-up in 1965.

Features of Omega Speedmaster X-33 Skywalker, reference number 318.90.45.79.01.001:

• Case: 45mm, titanium. 30m water resistance
• Dial: Black, LCD display
• Movement: Quartz
• Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, alarm, bi-directional rotating bezel, chronograph, date, perpetual calendar, time zone function
• Strap: Titanium

The Omega Speedmaster X-33 Skywalker, reference number 318.90.45.79.01.001 is priced at INR 5,68,100 approximately.

Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch Professional

Reference number: 310.30.42.50.01.002

For moments that demanded timeless reliability, Shukla turned to the Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch Professional. This is the watch that made history on the moon during Apollo 11, and its rugged charm hasn’t faded. With its hand-wound movement and precise chronograph, it’s ready for the challenges of space. While Shukla’s mission didn’t call for spacewalks, having the Moonwatch on hand was like carrying a piece of Apollo’s legacy. Shubhanshu Shukla’s Omega watch, with its storied past, connected his journey to the astronauts who walked the lunar surface, making every tick a tribute to exploration.

Features of Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch Professional, reference number 310.30.42.50.01.002:

• Case: 42mm, stainless steel. 50m water resistance
• Dial: Black
• Movement: Manual-winding. 50 hours of power reserve
• Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, small seconds, chronograph
• Strap: Nato Velcro strap / stainless steel bracelet

The Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch Professional, reference number 310.30.42.50.01.002 is priced at INR 8,26,000 approximately.

Omega in Space: A Legacy That Shines

Omega’s love affair with space began when NASA picked the Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch Professional for its Apollo missions in 1965. It faced tests that would make lesser watches crumble, like extreme heat, cold, vibration, and the vacuum of space. It passed with flying colors, earning its place on the moon and during the nail-biting Apollo 13 mission, where it timed a critical engine burn to save the crew. The Omega Speedmaster X-33 Skywalker, worn by Shukla, is its modern heir, packing digital smarts for today’s astronauts while staying true to Omega.

In the Axiom 4 Mission, Omega’s partnership with Axiom Space brought this legacy to life. Shukla and his crew, Peggy Whitson, Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski, and Tibor Kapu. All wore Omega timepieces, a testament to the brand’s enduring role in space. Shubhanshu Shukla’s Omega watch wasn’t just a tool; it was a symbol of precision and human ingenuity, ticking alongside experiments that could help us grow food on Mars or keep astronauts healthy in deep space.

Kapoor Watch Company

With a legacy of more than 5 decades Kapoor Watch Company is a leading retail chain for luxury watches. We showcase an expansive range of world’s top brands and their collections like Omega, Bvlgari, Cartier, Chopard etc. You can explore your dream luxury timepieces including the Omega Speedmaster Collection , the watch that accompanied Shubhanshu Shukla on the Axiom 4 Mission. Visit Kapoor Watch Co. website or Kapoor Watch Co. Stores.