New Delhi– President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended heartfelt congratulations on Wednesday to Indian Air Force Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, who has become the first Indian astronaut to journey to the International Space Station (ISS).
The mission marks a historic return for India to crewed spaceflight after a gap of 41 years. Shukla is the second Indian to venture into space, following Rakesh Sharma’s landmark mission in 1984.
Celebrating this achievement, President Murmu took to X (formerly Twitter), writing, “As Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla creates a new milestone in space for India, the whole nation is excited and proud of an Indian’s journey into the stars. He and his fellow astronauts of Axiom Mission 4 from the US, Poland, and Hungary prove the world is indeed one family — Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam.”
The President also emphasized the broader significance of the mission, saying, “My best wishes for the success of this mission, which reflects the enduring partnership between NASA and ISRO. The wide-ranging experiments to be performed by the crew will lead to new frontiers in scientific research and space exploration.”
Prime Minister Modi echoed the nation’s pride, congratulating Shukla and the entire crew on a successful launch.
“We welcome the successful launch of the space mission carrying astronauts from India, Hungary, Poland, and the US,” Modi posted on X. “The Indian astronaut, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, is on his way to becoming the first Indian to reach the International Space Station. He carries with him the hopes and aspirations of 1.4 billion Indians. Wishing him and the entire crew great success!”
Shukla’s spacecraft lifted off at 2:31 a.m. EDT (noon IST) from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The launch, powered by SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket, utilized a new Dragon spacecraft and came after at least six postponements.
Just before the launch, Shukla posted on X, “India is returning to space. Jai Hind.” He added, “After 41 years, India’s flag will fly in space again.”
In a touching message on Instagram, Shukla also thanked his wife, Kamna. “Special thanks to Kamna for being the wonderful partner that you are. Without you, none of this was possible — but more importantly, none of this would matter,” he wrote, sharing an emotional photo of them separated by a glass wall moments before his departure.
Shukla is serving as the mission’s pilot alongside Commander Peggy Whitson of the United States. The crew also includes Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski from Poland and Tibor Kapu from Hungary, both serving as mission specialists.
This milestone not only marks India’s return to human spaceflight but also underscores the nation’s growing presence in global space collaboration and innovation. (Source: IANS)
