New Delhi: Strapped up in SpaceX’s Dragon capsule, Indian Air Force group captain Shubhanshu Shukla took off to space on Wednesday, becoming the first Indian to do so in 41 years.
After multiple delays, first due to weather and then due to technical faults, the Axiom-4 human spaceflight took off from Launch Complex 39A at the NASA Kennedy Space Centre on Wednesday at 12:01 p.m IST.
Apart from Shukla, who is the designated mission pilot, the mission is flying the US’ Peggy Whitson, the mission commander, Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski from Poland and Tibor Kapu from Hungary, both mission specialists.
Announcing the successful liftoff of the SpaceX rocket carrying the crew, NASA said Wednesday’s mission was significant because it was carrying astronauts from three countries—India, Poland and Hungary—which are still in the process of building their national human spaceflight programmes.
“Nothing like a liftoff! Axiom Space’s AX-4 mission, riding atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, launched from NASA Kennedy at 2:31 am ET,” the US space agency announced.
Eight minutes after liftoff, NASA announced the spacecraft’s successful separation from the crew capsule, after which the spacecraft safely returned to Earth.
In his first address to his countrymen after reaching Earth’s orbit, Shukla said that he was carrying a piece of every Indian with him, and the Indian flag embossed on his spacesuit was a reminder of it.
“My dear countrymen. What a ride! We are back in space again after 41 years… We are revolving at a speed of 7.5 km per second… I want you all to be a part of this journey,” he said, ending the address with, “Jai Hind. Jai Bharat.”
The capsule will dock at the ISS on 26 June—about 28 hours after launch—around 4.30 pm IST.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Shukla and mission organisers for the successful flight, wishing Shukla a safe stay in space.
“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 the 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,” PM Modi said in a post on social media platform ‘X’.
Celebrating an Indian’s flight to space after over four decades, viewing events were carried out at various locations across Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Chennai.
The crowd cheered and clapped as the SpaceX rocket set off from the stand amid thick clouds of smoke.
Shukla’s parents watched the spectacle from his son’s school, the City Montessori School in Lucknow. The school had organised and event, attended by Shukla’s parents, school children and teachers. His mother wiped tears of joy as she watched the rocket soar into the sky, while his father shared his pride: “This is the most joyous day of my life. I feel so fortunate.”
The mission
With nearly 60 scientific studies and activities representing 31 countries, including the US, India, Poland, Hungary, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Nigeria, UAE, and nations across Europe, this mission is being touted as one which will carry out the most scientific activities to ever be conducted on an Axiom Space mission aboard the ISS.
India has sent at least seven microgravity experiments, developed by top Indian research institutes, which will be led by Shukla in space.
The US-based Axiom Space said that the number of experiments that are being carried on board the mission underscores its global significance and collaborative nature to advance microgravity research in low-Earth orbit.
(Edited by Viny Mishra)
Also read: Axiom-4 to set stage for a new chapter in space exploration—the first-ever commercial space station