In a historic moment for Indian space exploration, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla became the first Indian to board the International Space Station (ISS), as part of the Axiom-4 mission. On Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to the astronaut from Earth, in a conversation that was recorded and will be broadcast soon.
Visuals released by the Prime Minister’s Office showed a smiling Prime Minister in a video call with Shukla, who is currently aboard the ISS after a flawless docking of the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft at the Harmony module. Shukla’s mission represents India’s return to human spaceflight after 41 years, following Rakesh Sharma’s 1984 voyage.
“You are farthest from India but closest to Indians’ heart. Your journey marks the beginning of a new era,” Modi told Shukla during the video interaction.
Shukla said, “This is not just my journey alone but also our country’s. I feel proud to represent India.”
I had a wonderful conversation with Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla as he shared his experiences from the International Space Station. Watch the special interaction! https://t.co/MoMR5ozRRA
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 28, 2025
“Expectations Surpassed”: Shukla’s Journey and Scientific Goals
Serving as mission pilot, Shukla is joined by mission commander Peggy Whitson (USA), Sawosz Uznanski (Poland), and Tibor Kapu (Hungary). The team launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre in Florida on Wednesday and reached the ISS after a 28-hour journey.
Shukla described his initial moments in orbit as surreal, sharing, “It looks easy standing on camera, but my head feels a little heavy.” Now officially astronaut number 634, Shukla received his Space Station pin and expressed optimism about the days ahead.
“I feel even better and my expectations have been surpassed by the view and the current crew. The next 14 days are going to be exciting and great,” he said.
Before docking, Shukla sent an emotional message: “Namaskar from space,” saying he was honoured to carry the dreams of 1.4 billion Indians.
The Ax-4 team is slated to carry out over 60 scientific experiments and outreach activities, marking the most ambitious research agenda of any Axiom mission. Their work includes cancer research, DNA repair studies, and advancements in space-based manufacturing, highlighting the expanding scope of international and commercial collaboration in space missions.
