Shubhanshu Shukla Becomes Second Indian in Space, Shares Emotional Message from Orbit
In a historic moment for India’s space ambitions, Indian Air Force Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla made a live video call from space, shortly after reaching orbit aboard the Axiom-4 mission. Shukla, who is now the second Indian to travel to space after Rakesh Sharma’s iconic 1984 mission, greeted the nation and shared his early experiences of life in microgravity.
Shukla is part of a four-member international crew aboard the Axiom-4 mission, which includes Commander Peggy Whitson from the United States, and Mission Specialists Slavoj Ujnanski-Wisniewski from Poland and Tibor Kapu from Hungary.
In his video message, an emotional Shukla said,
"Namaste. I am now getting used to zero gravity—learning like a child learning to walk. I am really enjoying this moment. The tricolor always reminds me that you all are with me. This is a strong step for India's human space program and the upcoming Gaganyaan mission. I want each and every one of you to feel like a part of this mission."
The Axiom-4 mission lifted off aboard a Falcon 9 rocket at 2:31 a.m. EDT (12 noon IST) from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, carrying the crew, successfully entered Earth’s orbit and is en route to the International Space Station (ISS). According to NASA, it is expected to dock with the space-facing port of the Harmony module at around 7:00 a.m. IST on Thursday.
Shukla, born in Lucknow, brings pride to India not only as a representative of the Indian Air Force but also as a symbol of India’s growing participation in global space exploration. His journey is being seen as a major step forward in India’s human spaceflight program, especially in the context of ISRO’s ambitious Gaganyaan mission.
This mission marks a significant milestone—41 years after Rakesh Sharma became the first Indian in space, Shubhanshu Shukla now carries the legacy forward into a new era of international collaboration and exploration.