“Shubhanshu Shukla Carries Aspirations of 1.4 Billion Indians”: PM Modi on India’s Space Leap
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 25th June: India marked a monumental moment in its space journey as Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla of the Indian Air Force lifted off for the International Space Station (ISS) aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket this afternoon. Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded the achievement, calling it a proud leap for the nation and emphasizing that Shukla carries with him the wishes, hopes, and aspirations of 1.4 billion Indians.
The Falcon 9 rocket, carrying the Crew Dragon capsule with four astronauts, blasted off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 12:05 PM IST as part of the Axiom-4 mission—a collaborative initiative between NASA and Houston-based Axiom Space.
“We welcome the successful launch of the space mission carrying astronauts from India, Hungary, Poland, and the US. The Indian astronaut, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, is on the way to becoming the first Indian to go to the International Space Station. He carries with him the wishes, hopes, and aspirations of 1.4 billion Indians,” said Prime Minister Modi, extending his best wishes to all four astronauts on board.
President Droupadi Murmu echoed the sentiment, celebrating the mission as a reflection of India’s growing role in global space exploration. Drawing upon the Sanskrit ethos of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam—the world is one family—she noted, “As Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla creates a new milestone in space for India, the whole nation is excited and proud. He and his fellow astronauts of Axiom Mission 4 prove that the world is indeed one family.”
The mission marks the second time an Indian astronaut has travelled to space, coming four decades after Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma’s historic 1984 flight. Group Captain Shukla’s journey is also being hailed as a precursor to India’s own human spaceflight program, Gaganyaan.
The Axiom-4 mission includes mission commander Dr. Peggy Whitson of the United States, Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski from Poland, and Tibor Kapu from Hungary. Over the 14-day mission, the astronauts are expected to conduct 60 scientific experiments, seven of which are proposed by Indian researchers.
In a message from orbit shortly after launch, Group Captain Shukla said, “This is the start of India’s human space program. Jai Hind, Jai Bharat.” He is also expected to engage in a special space-to-earth outreach, possibly interacting with a prominent Indian dignitary during the mission.
The mission is not only a technological feat but a symbol of international cooperation and India’s ascendance in the global space community.
