The family of Indian Air Force Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the pilot of Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4), met with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in Lucknow on Thursday evening. The meeting followed the successful docking of the Ax-4 mission at the International Space Station (ISS), marking a historic moment for India.
Shukla's parents, Shambhu Dayal Shukla and Asha Shukla, along with his sister Shuchi Mishra and brother, were felicitated by the Chief Minister. Adityanath presented them with a token of appreciation, honoring Shubhanshu's accomplishment of being selected for the space mission.
Asha Shukla, Shubhanshu's mother, expressed her delight to ANI, stating, "We are delighted. We could meet the Chief Minister today due to our son. He felicitated us. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to him. He appreciated our child and said that he has done so well. We feel very proud. We have a new identity today due to our son."
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla has made history as the 634th human in space and the first Indian to board the International Space Station (ISS). He described the moment as a "privilege" upon receiving his astronaut pin from Ax-4 mission commander Peggy Whitson. Following a 28-hour journey aboard the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, the Ax-4 crew successfully docked with the ISS.
Shukla conveyed his excitement, stating, "To be fair, it is a privilege to be amongst the few who have got the chance to see the Earth from a vantage point that I have been able to see now. It has been a wonderful ride. I was looking forward to coming to space--it is something to look forward to. But the moment I entered the ISS, I felt welcomed. You guys literally opened up your doors like your house doors for us, that was fantastic. The expectations I had were surpassed, so thank you so much; this was fantastic. I am confident the next 14 days are going to be amazing doing science and research." He also extended a message to the people of India, attributing his success to their "love and blessings."
The Axiom-4 mission represents a significant milestone for India, Poland, and Hungary, marking their return to human spaceflight. Each nation is sending a government-sponsored astronaut to the ISS for the first time in over 40 years. This mission also marks the first instance of these countries collaborating on a mission aboard the ISS.
Earlier in the day, Shukla's family, along with friends and relatives, gathered at his former school in Lucknow to watch the live telecast of the Axiom-4 spacecraft docking at the ISS. Shukla's parents expressed their excitement and pride, with his mother becoming emotional during the live broadcast. His sister, Shuchi Mishra, shared that it was a proud moment not only for her but for all Indians, praying for the safe completion of the mission.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has also congratulated Shubhanshu Shukla and applauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his visionary leadership, which facilitated India's participation in the international space mission, showcasing India's commitment to scientific advancement and global collaboration.
