Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday engaged in a heartwarming virtual interaction with Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, who is currently aboard the International Space Station (ISS) as part of the Axiom-4 mission. The Prime Minister congratulated the astronaut on behalf of 1.4 billion Indians, telling him, "You are furthest from the motherland but closest to Indian hearts".
Shukla, visibly elated, expressed his gratitude to PM Modi, acknowledging that his leadership has provided "numerous opportunities to fulfill their dreams". He further shared his unique perspective of India from space, describing it as "very grand, very big, much bigger than what we see on the map".
PM Modi, in turn, remarked, "Aapke naam mein bhi shubh hai aur aapki yatra naye yug ka shubharambh bhi hai," noting the auspicious nature of Shukla's name and his journey as a hopeful beginning for the youth of the nation. He also conveyed the enthusiasm and excitement of all Indians, extending his heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to Shukla for hoisting the Indian flag in space.
Group Captain Shukla, serving as the mission pilot for Axiom-4, is the first Indian to visit the International Space Station, and the second Indian to travel to space, following Rakesh Sharma's mission in 1984. The Axiom-4 mission, a collaboration between NASA, SpaceX, and ISRO, launched from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on June 25, 2025. The SpaceX Dragon capsule successfully docked with the ISS after a 28-hour journey.
During the interaction, Shukla shared his experiences of living and working in microgravity, noting the challenges of adapting to the absence of gravity. He also mentioned that he gets to witness 16 sunrises and sunsets every day while traveling at a speed of around 28,000 km per hour.
Shukla also brought Indian delicacies like "gajar ka halwa, moong dal ka halwa and aam ras" to share with his international crewmates. He expressed his desire for his crewmates to experience India's rich culinary heritage.
The Axiom-4 mission team will spend approximately 14 days aboard the ISS, collaborating with the Expedition 73 crew and conducting over 60 scientific experiments and educational outreach activities. Shukla is leading seven of these experiments, which cover areas such as cancer research, DNA repair, and advanced manufacturing.
Shukla's journey to space began with rigorous training at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Moscow, and continued at the Astronaut Training Facility in Bangalore. He was selected for the Indian Human Spaceflight Programme in 2019 and has since become an integral part of India's Gaganyaan mission.
Prior to the mission, Shukla conveyed an emotional message, stating that his journey was not just his own but that of the entire nation. He also shared a message from space, emphasizing the unity of Earth and the absence of borders when viewed from above.
Shubhanshu Shukla's historic mission marks a significant milestone in India's space exploration journey, highlighting the nation's growing capabilities in human spaceflight and its commitment to international collaboration.
