India marked a historic milestone in its space journey as Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, a native of Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, became the first Indian to reach the International Space Station (ISS). After a gap of 41 years since Rakesh Sharma’s legendary space mission in 1984, Shukla’s flight signifies India’s return to human spaceflight endeavors on a global platform.
Shukla, a seasoned test pilot of the Indian Air Force, launched aboard SpaceX’s Falcon-9 rocket as part of Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4), a private mission facilitated by U.S.-based space company Axiom Space. Along with him, astronauts from Hungary and Poland are also part of the mission.
The launch took place from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 12:01 PM IST on Wednesday, with millions across India watching with pride and emotion. At his alma mater, City Montessori School in Lucknow, the moment turned emotional as his parents watched the launch live. His mother was tearful with joy, and his father beamed with pride, while the entire auditorium erupted in applause and celebration.
This marks the first time an Indian has travelled to space aboard the SpaceX Dragon capsule, adding another significant chapter to India’s space achievements. The excitement resonated throughout India as Shubhanshu carried the aspirations of a billion hearts to space.
