GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 25th June: President Droupadi Murmu on Wednesday expressed pride and excitement over Indian Air Force Group Captain Subhanshu Shukla’s journey into space, calling his participation in the Axiom-4 mission a historic milestone for India.
In a post on X, President Murmu said, “As Group Captain Subhanshu 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 also extended best wishes for the success of the Axiom-4 mission, stating that the wide-ranging experiments to be carried out aboard the International Space Station (ISS) would pave the way for “new frontiers of scientific studies and space exploration.” The President highlighted the mission as a symbol of the enduring partnership between NASA and ISRO.
Shukla, who hails from Lucknow, made history on Wednesday afternoon by launching aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft, propelled by a Falcon 9 rocket from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. He became the second Indian in space after Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma, who flew in 1984 as part of a Soviet mission.
The launch sparked celebrations across the country, with special cheer at City Montessori School in Lucknow, where Shukla studied. His parents, present at a watch party in the school, were overwhelmed with emotion as they witnessed the momentous lift-off live.
The Axiom-4 mission, led by Commander Peggy Whitson of the US, includes astronauts from Poland, Hungary, and India. Over the next fortnight, the crew will conduct 60 scientific experiments aboard the ISS, including seven proposed by Indian researchers.
