Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla on Tuesday turned the primary Indian astronaut to move to the ISS as a part of the Axiom-4 mission.
In this screenshot by way of @Axiom_Space on X on June 25, 2025, Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla and three others aboard the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft certain for the International Space Station. (@Axiom_Space)
The Axiom-4 mission launch made Shubhanshu Shukla the primary Indian astronaut head to the house for the ISS and solely the second Indian in historical past to journey to house.
The mission, which took off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 12:01 pm IST, contains astronauts from 4 international locations – India, the United States, Poland, and Hungary.
Shubhanshu Shukla in house
Shubhanshu Shukla, a local of Uttar Pradesh’s Lucknow, was chosen for this business spaceflight by Axiom Space, alongside veteran NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski of Poland, and Tibor Kapu of Hungary.
The IAF hailed the milestone, calling it a reaffirmation of India’s “ever-expanding horizon” and a proud continuation of the legacy began by Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma in 1984.
“From conquering the skies to touching the stars – a journey powered by the indomitable spirit of the IAF Air Warrior,” the IAF mentioned in a publish on social media platform X.
“Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla sets forth on a landmark Space Mission, carrying the pride of the nation beyond Earth,” the IAF wrote
Accompanying the publish was a captioned picture of Shukla titled “Trained in Blue, Bound for the Stars”, and a tricolour-themed message that learn: “Wishing You Success in this Glorious Mission.”
Déjà vu second
Calling it a “déjà vu moment for India,” the IAF in contrast the mission to Rakesh Sharma’s 1984 journey aboard the Soviet Salyut-7 house station. “More than a mission – it is reaffirmation of India’s ever-expanding horizon,” the IAF mentioned in its X publish.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the profitable launch of the Axiom 4 mission and acknowledged that Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is carrying the desires, hopes and aspirations of 1.4 billion Indian residents.
Defence minister Rajnath Singh additionally prolonged his congratulations, calling the mission a historic achievement. “The Space Mission carrying astronauts from four countries including India is going to be a significant milestone in the history of space exploration,” he mentioned in a publish on X.
“The Indian Astronaut, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla who hails from Lucknow is set to be the first Indian to go to International Space Station. The country is proud of him. Wishing him and his fellow space travellers success in their endeavours,” Rajnath Singh’s publish learn.
Watch events have been held at numerous places in Shubhanshu Shukla’s hometown of Lucknow, together with his alma mater – City Montessori School – the place his proud dad and mom watched the historic liftoff.
The Axiom-4 mission marks a significant step for India in business house collaboration and indicators a return to human house presence after a four-decade-long hole since Rakesh Sharma’s mission.
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