 "'From conquering skies to touching stars': Wishes pour in for Shubhanshu Shukla after launch of Axiom-4")
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday commended the successful lift-off of the Axiom-4 space mission carrying Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla. The SpaceX Falcon-9 rocket launched from the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida and is currently on its way to the International Space Station (ISS).
“The Indian Astronaut, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is on the way to become the first Indian to go to International Space Station. He carries with him the wishes, hopes and aspirations of 1.4 billion Indians,” PM Modi said on X.
We welcome the successful launch of the Space Mission carrying astronauts from India, Hungary, Poland and the US.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 25, 2025
The Indian Astronaut, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is on the way to become the first Indian to go to International Space Station. He carries with him the wishes,…
The Ax-4 crew includes astronauts from India, Poland, and Hungary — each representing their country’s first mission to the space station. According to Axiom Space, it also marks the second government-sponsored human spaceflight mission in over 40 years.
Shukla is the second Indian astronaut to fly to space since 1984 after Rakesh Sharma. He is part of Axiom Space’s fourth private space mission, marking a significant moment for India’s space exploration in collaboration with Nasa.
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More Shorts‘New milestone in space for India’
President Droupadi Murmu wished success for the Axiom-4 mission and said that Shukla has created a new milestone for India’s space mission.
“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’,” she said.
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 –…
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) June 25, 2025
“Congratulations Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla — you are the first Indian Astronaut to embark on a mission to the International Space Station. Indeed, a proud moment for India!” said Union MoS of Science and Technology Jitendra Singh.
The Indian Air Force also congratulated Shukla on his new mission to space, saying, “From conquering the skies to touching the stars— a journey powered by the indomitable spirit of the IAF Air Warrior.”
‘Proud of my son’
Shubhanshu Shukla’s father, Shambhu Dayal Shukla, was elated to watch his son embark on his space journey. Speaking to CNN-News18, Shambhu Shukla said, “I am feeling very happy. It’s a proud moment for us. My son has made the nation proud. Only 10 per cent of it is our support, 90 per cent is Shubhanshu’s hard work.”
#WATCH | Lucknow | Parents, relatives of IAF Group Captain & astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, share an emotional embrace as #Axiom4Mission lifts off from NASA's Kennedy Space Centre in Florida, US. pic.twitter.com/rIDhDpiTBS
— ANI (@ANI) June 25, 2025
He said that his son was never nervous and always enjoyed his work. The mission to the ISS is viewed as a stepping stone toward India’s ambitious human spaceflight program, Gaganyaan, a mission for which Shubhanshu has also been actively preparing.
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