Shubhanshu Shukla’s Journey to Space: A Historic Mission

A Warm Welcome for Shubhanshu Shukla’s Family

Just hours before his big spaceflight, the family of Indian Air Force Group Captain and astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla received a warm welcome at his old school in Lucknow.

Shubhanshu Shukla’s Big Day

Group Captain Shukla is set to lift off at 12:01 PM IST from NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre in Florida. He is the pilot of the Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4). This mission is a 14-day journey to the International Space Station. The mission includes representatives from Hungary and Poland.

A Father’s Pride

Shukla’s father, Shambhu Dayal Shukla, shared his joy at the event. He said, “This feels great. I feel very proud and fortunate to be the father of such a child. This is the most joyous day of my life.”

A Big Moment for India

This flight is a significant moment for India. It comes 41 years after Rakesh Sharma became the first Indian to go to space. India’s human spaceflight ambitions are now focused on the upcoming Gaganyaan programme. This programme aims for a crewed mission by 2027. Shukla’s experience on Ax-4 will be valuable for this mission.

India’s Space Achievements

India has shown its capabilities with missions like the Mars orbiter and the Chandrayaan landing near the lunar south pole. Human spaceflight is the next big leap for India.

Inspiring the Next Generation

Group Captain Shukla has often spoken of his admiration for Rakesh Sharma, who travelled to space aboard a Soviet spacecraft in 1984. In an Axiom video, Shukla described the Ax-4 team as “fantastic.” He hopes the mission will inspire young people back home.

“It has been an amazing journey. I want to use this opportunity to ignite curiosity among kids. Even if this story, my story, is able to change one life, it would be a huge success for me,” Shukla said.

Meet the Ax-4 Crew

The Ax-4 crew includes:

• US astronaut Peggy Whitson
• Poland’s Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski
• Hungary’s Tibor Kapu

The mission is being carried out by Axiom Space in collaboration with NASA, ISRO, and the European Space Agency.

India’s Role in Space Exploration

India’s Department of Space described the mission as a reflection of the country’s growing role in international space partnerships. It also shows India’s resolve to emerge as a contender in human space exploration.