New Delhi | June 26, 2025 — Less than 24 hours after embarking on a landmark mission to the International Space Station (ISS), Indian astronaut and Indian Air Force Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla shared a heartfelt message from orbit, describing his experience as "thrilling" and expressing gratitude to all those who supported his journey.
“Namaskar from space. I am thrilled to be here with my fellow astronauts,” Shukla said in his second message from space, released on Thursday. Holding a soft swan toy, a symbol of wisdom in Indian culture, he spoke warmly about his arrival aboard the ISS and the overwhelming support he has received.
“What a ride it was. After 30 days of quarantine, I just wanted to get to the ISS. It was an amazing ride,” he added, beaming. “This is not a personal accomplishment alone. My family, friends, and the entire nation have supported me — this moment belongs to all of us.”
As he adapted to microgravity aboard the ISS, Shukla noted, “I’m enjoying the view and learning how to eat in this environment.” He also revealed that he carried the Indian tricolour on his shoulder during the launch — a gesture he said reminded him he was representing not just himself, but an entire nation.
India Returns to Human Spaceflight After 41 Years
Shukla's mission marks a historic return for India to human spaceflight, more than four decades after Rakesh Sharma became the first Indian in space in 1984. His launch is part of the Axiom-4 mission, a multi-national private spaceflight mission led by Axiom Space, in partnership with SpaceX and NASA.
The mission lifted off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 12:01 PM IST on Wednesday aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, carrying the Crew Dragon spacecraft. Shukla is joined by former NASA astronaut Commander Peggy Whitson, Hungarian aerospace engineer Tibor Kapu, and Polish scientist Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski.
Moments after the launch, Shukla delivered his first brief message from orbit. “Namaskar, my dear countrymen. We have reached space after 41 years. It was a great ride,” he said, ten minutes into spaceflight.
Crowds across India and around the world gathered at watch parties to witness the momentous event. Applause and cheers erupted as the rocket soared into the Florida sky, launching from the same iconic pad that once sent Neil Armstrong on his legendary Apollo-11 moon mission in 1969.
The successful liftoff and Shukla’s continued updates from the ISS have generated a surge of pride and excitement across India, heralding a new chapter in the country’s expanding presence in space exploration.
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