The profitable launch of the Axiom-4 mission has ignited a wave of delight throughout India, with former cricketer Yuvraj Singh capturing the nationwide sentiment in a heartfelt message. “As Group Captain Shukla lifted off into space, he carried with him not just the hopes of a nation, but the strength of every Indian who dares to dream big. This is a moment we’ll remember for generations,” he wrote.The Axiom-4 mission marks a monumental return to human spaceflight for India, coming 41 years after Rakesh Sharma‘s iconic voyage. Blasting off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre in Florida on Wednesday, the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carried Indian Air Force Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla together with astronauts from Hungary, Poland, and the United States.Prime Minister Narendra Modi additionally prolonged his congratulations, noting that Shukla carries the goals of 1.4 billion Indians. “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 the way to become the first Indian to go to International Space Station. He carries with him the wishes, hopes and aspirations of 1.4 billion Indians. Wish him and other astronauts all the success!” He posted on X.The astronauts are set to spend 14 days aboard the International Space Station, conducting over 60 scientific experiments. From his spacecraft, named Grace, Shukla addressed the nation with emotion: “Namaskar, my dear countrymen. We have reached space after 41 years. It was a great ride.”Orbiting Earth at 7.5 km per second, Shukla proudly wore the Indian tricolour on his go well with, symbolising the collective spirit of the nation. He expressed hope that his mission would spark curiosity and encourage a new technology of Indians to discover area.
“This isn’t just my journey — it’s India’s journey into the future of human spaceflight,” he mentioned.With his phrases echoing throughout the nation, Shukla’s mission has already begun to redefine India’s place in area exploration.