New Delhi, June 25: President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday extended their heartfelt wishes to Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, who is part of the historic Axiom Mission 4 that launched today from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, USA.
Group Captain Shukla, piloting the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, has become the first Indian to embark on a mission to the International Space Station (ISS), joining a crew of astronauts from the United States, Hungary, and Poland.
In a message shared on X (formerly Twitter), President Murmu expressed national pride and admiration for the milestone.
"As Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla creates a new milestone in space for India, the whole nation is excited and proud of an Indian's journey into the stars. He and his fellow astronauts from the US, Poland, and Hungary truly exemplify the spirit of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam'—the world is one family," she wrote.
She further highlighted the collaborative nature of the mission, stating, "My best wishes for the success of this mission, which reflects the enduring partnership between NASA and ISRO. The wide-ranging experiments to be conducted by the crew will open new frontiers in scientific research and space exploration."
Prime Minister Modi also took to X to congratulate the team and convey his support.
"We welcome the successful launch of the space mission carrying astronauts from India, Hungary, Poland, and the US. Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is set to become the first Indian to visit the International Space Station. He carries with him the hopes, dreams, and aspirations of 1.4 billion Indians. Wishing him and the entire crew a successful and impactful mission," his post read.
The Axiom-4 mission lifted off aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft from Launch Complex 39A at 2:31 am Eastern Time (12:00 noon IST), marking another significant step in global space collaboration.
