Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday lauded the successful launch of the Axiom-4 mission, saying that Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, piloting the mission, carries with him the hopes and aspirations of 1.4 billion Indians as he embarks on a historic journey to the International Space Station (ISS).
Taking to social media platform X, PM Modi said, “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!”
The Axiom Mission 4 lifted off aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre in Florida at 2:31 am ET (12 Noon IST) on Wednesday. This marks India’s return to human spaceflight after over four decades, and Shukla is set to become the first Indian astronaut to visit the ISS.
Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh also celebrated the launch, describing it as a defining moment in India’s rise toward becoming a Viksit Bharat (developed nation) through space exploration. He noted that Group Captain Shukla will carry out seven critical experiments onboard, designed by premier Indian scientific institutions.
“This is indeed a proud moment for India! ISRO’s growing global collaborations, fostered by reforms under Prime Minister Modi, have positioned India as a key player in global space exploration,” Singh posted.
He also paid tribute to Dr. Vikram Sarabhai and Dr. Satish Dhawan, pioneers of India’s space programme, saying the mission honours their vision under the leadership of PM Modi.
The Axiom-4 mission includes astronauts from India, the US, Hungary, and Poland, and is part of the expanding wave of private and government-backed human spaceflights to the ISS.
