India made space history today when Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla flew into orbit on his way to the International Space Station (ISS), the first Indian to do so.
Aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, the Axiom-4 mission launched at 12:05 PM IST from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed the historic achievement, stating, "We welcome the successful launch of the Space Mission carrying astronauts from India, Hungary, Poland and the US. The Indian Astronaut, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is on his way to become the first Indian to travel to International Space Station. He takes with him the wishes, hopes and aspirations of 1.4 billion Indians."
The Prime Minister also wished all the crew members — including Shukla, who has been appointed as the mission's spacecraft pilot — mission commander Dr. Peggy Whitson of the US, and mission specialists Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski of Poland and Tibor Kapu of Hungary — best wishes.
President Droupadi Murmu spoke of the symbolic global oneness expressed in the mission, using India's ancient philosophy. "While Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla sets a new milestone in space for India, the entire nation is thrilled and proud of an Indian's venture into the stars," she stated. "He and other astronauts of Axiom Mission 4 from the US, Poland, and Hungary show the world is indeed one family — Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam."
The President also referred to the importance of the scientific experiments on board, where they "will pave the way towards new horizons of scientific research and space exploration."
The 14-day Axiom-4 mission, a collaborative effort between NASA and Axiom Space from Houston, comprises a bold array of 60 scientific experiments, of which seven were proposed by Indian scientists. The mission is a stepping stone towards India's long-term goals in human spaceflight.
Shukla's flight is the first time an Indian has flown in space since Rakesh Sharma's legendary 1984 flight. Under Mission Akash Ganga, Group Captain Shukla will not only perform scientific experiments but also take part in a live space-to-Earth outreach program. There are hints that he might even talk to a high-ranking official from orbit while he is on board the ISS.
In his initial broadcast upon gaining orbit, the pilot from the Indian Air Force provided a message of national pride: "This is the beginning of India's human space program. Jai Hind, Jai Bharat."
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