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'What a ride!': Shubhanshu Shukla's first message from space
Shubhanshu Shukla is currently on the Axiom-4 mission

'What a ride!': Shubhanshu Shukla's first message from space

By Mudit Dube
Jun 25, 2025
01:50 pm
What's the story

Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the pilot of the Axiom-4 mission to the International Space Station (ISS), has shared his first message from space. As he soared into the cosmos, Shukla greeted fellow Indians with a warm "namaskar." "Greetings, my dear countrymen...we have reached space...and the Tricolour on my shoulder tells me that I am with all of you," Shukla said in Hindi.

Historic milestone

'This is not just my journey...'

Shukla's message marks a major milestone in India's space exploration journey, ending a 41-year wait since Rakesh Sharma's mission. "Namaste mere deshwasiyon, what a ride! 41 saal baad hum waapas antrishk mei pahunch gaye hain (Namaste my countrymen, what a ride! After 41 years we have reached space again)," he said. He also stressed that this is not just his journey to the ISS but also India's human space program.

Invitation

Axiom-4 mission was launched from NASA's Kennedy Space Center

Shukla also invited all Indians to be a part of this journey. "I want every Indian to be part of this program with great excitement," he said. The Axiom-4 mission was launched from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, and will dock at the ISS tomorrow. The targeted docking time is approximately 4:30pm IST, NASA said in a statement.

Space mission

IAF congratulated Shukla

The Indian Air Force congratulated Shukla, saying his journey is "a deja-vu moment for India, 41 years after the mission of Sqn Ldr Rakesh Sharma." The Axiom-4 mission also includes former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson as commander and two mission specialists ESA project astronaut Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski from Poland and HUNOR (Hungarian to Orbit) astronaut Tibor Kapu from Hungary.

Twitter Post

Listen to Shukla's first message from space