Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday interacted with Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the primary Indian to succeed in the Worldwide Area Station (ISS). The Axiom-4 mission, carrying Group Captain Shukla and three different crew members, docked with the ISS on June 26.
“PM Narendra Modi interacted with Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, who’s aboard the Worldwide Area Station,” the Prime Minister’s Workplace mentioned in a publish on X. Group Captain Shukla, who’s serving because the Mission Pilot, has turn out to be the second Indian to journey to house and the primary to set foot on the ISS.
PM @narendramodi interacted with Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, who’s aboard the Worldwide Area Station. pic.twitter.com/Q37HqvUwCd
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) June 28, 2025
Additionally Learn: Axiom-4 Mission: Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla orbiting Earth, to dock right now at house station
‘Needs of 1.4 billion Indians’
Earlier, following the profitable launch of the Axiom-4 mission, Prime Minister Modi hailed the milestone and mentioned, “We welcome the profitable launch of the Area Mission carrying astronauts from India, Hungary, Poland and the US. The Indian Astronaut, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is on the way in which to turn out to be the primary Indian to go to Worldwide Area Station. He carries with him the desires, hopes and aspirations of 1.4 billion Indians. Want him and different astronauts all of the success!”
Group Captain Shukla mirrored on the mission with emotion, describing the launch as “magical” and mentioned, “I’m thrilled to be right here with my fellow astronauts – what a journey it was. Truthfully, as I sat within the capsule ‘Grace’ on the launchpad yesterday after 30 days of quarantine, all I may assume was: simply go. When the launch lastly occurred, it was one thing else fully. You are pushed again into the seat–and then all of a sudden, there’s silence. You are simply floating within the vacuum, and it is magical.”
Profitable docking and heat welcome aboard ISS
The Dragon spacecraft carrying the Ax-4 crew docked with the space-facing port of the Concord module at 4:05 pm IST, forward of schedule. The crew was warmly welcomed by the seven-member Expedition 73 staff and started with a security briefing.
The Ax-4 staff consists of former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson (Mission Commander), ISRO astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, ESA astronauts Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski of Poland, and Tibor Kapu of Hungary.
Additionally Learn:Axiom-4 Mission: Countdown begins! India’s Shubhanshu Shukla set for historic ISS journey as SpaceX confirms launch readiness
After reaching the ISS, Group Captain Shukla mentioned, “To be truthful, it’s a privilege to be amongst the few who have gotten the possibility to see the Earth from a vantage level that I’ve been capable of see now. It has been a beautiful journey. I used to be trying ahead to coming to space–it is one thing to look ahead. However the second I entered the ISS, I felt welcomed. You (Expedition 73 crew) guys actually opened up your doorways like your home doorways for us, that was implausible. The expectations I had had been surpassed, so thanks a lot; this was implausible. I’m assured the following 14 days are going to be wonderful doing science and analysis.”
‘Tricolour on my shoulder seems like complete nation is with me’
Talking of India’s satisfaction and emotional connection to the mission, Shukla mentioned, “I’ve a small message for my countrymen: It’s due to your love and blessings that I’ve safely reached the Worldwide Area Station. It could look straightforward to face right here, however it isn’t; my head is aching. Nevertheless, we’ll get used to it. We will probably be right here for 14 days, conducting scientific experiments and talking with you. This can be a milestone for India. Let’s make this journey thrilling and let everybody take part with curiosity.”
“The Tricolour I bear on my shoulder makes me really feel as if the complete nation is with me. I consider the following 14 days are going to be really fascinating,” he added.
What’s subsequent for Shukla and the Ax-4 staff
The astronauts are set to spend two weeks aboard the ISS, participating in scientific experiments, instructional outreach, and industrial actions. Group Captain Shukla will lead a number of experiments as a part of India’s collaboration on the Axiom Mission 4.
