India’s Stellar Leap Forward Under PM Modi’s Visionary Leadership Celebrated as Shukla Becomes First Indian to Reach ISS
Published on: June 27, 2025
By: [BTNI]
Location: New Delhi, India
In a moment that has ignited national pride, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, a decorated Indian Air Force pilot, has scripted history as the mission pilot of Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4), becoming the first Indian astronaut to reach the International Space Station (ISS). The successful launch of the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on June 25, 2025, at 12:01 PM IST, marks a monumental milestone for India’s space ambitions, 41 years after Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma’s historic 1984 spaceflight.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed this achievement, stating, “The Indian Astronaut, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, is on the way to become the first Indian to go to the International Space Station. He carries with him the wishes, hopes, and aspirations of 1.4 billion Indians.” This mission, a collaborative effort between NASA, ISRO, the European Space Agency, and Axiom Space, underscores India’s growing prowess in global space exploration under PM Modi’s visionary leadership.
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The Ax-4 mission, led by former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, includes mission specialists Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski from Poland and Tibor Kapu from Hungary, alongside Shukla. The crew docked with the ISS on June 26, 2025, at approximately 4:45 PM IST, welcomed by the Expedition 73 crew. Over the next 14 days, Shukla and his team will conduct over 60 scientific experiments, including seven designed by Indian institutes, such as studying the impact of spaceflight on crop seeds.
Shukla, a 39-year-old test pilot with over 2,000 hours of flight experience, expressed his excitement, saying, “Namaskar, mere pyaare desh vasiyon. We are orbiting Earth at a velocity of 7.5 km per second. I carry not just instruments, but the hopes and dreams of a billion hearts.” His message, delivered in Hindi, resonated across India, with celebrations erupting in his hometown of Lucknow and beyond.
President Droupadi Murmu also congratulated Shukla, noting, “He and his fellow astronauts of Axiom Mission 4 prove the world is indeed one family – Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam. The wide-ranging experiments will lead to new frontiers of scientific studies and space exploration.” Union Ministers Nitin Gadkari, Piyush Goyal, and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath echoed similar sentiments, calling the mission a testament to India’s scientific advancement and global collaboration.
The mission, costing ISRO approximately 5 billion rupees ($59 million), is a stepping stone for India’s ambitious Gaganyaan program, set for 2027, which aims to send astronauts to low Earth orbit. Shukla’s rigorous training in Russia, India, and the United States has equipped him to contribute significantly to this historic endeavor, inspiring a new generation of Indian scientists and engineers.
As Shukla conducts experiments and interacts with Indian students from the ISS, including a potential conversation with PM Modi, this mission symbolizes India’s ascent as a frontline nation in space exploration, fueled by determination, innovation, and international partnerships.
