PM Modi Interacts With Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla Aboard The ISS

PM Narendra Modi interacted with Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the first Indian to reach the International Space Station (ISS), following the successful docking of the Axiom-4 (Ax-4) Mission on June 26.

Shukla, who serves as Mission Pilot, became the second Indian in space and the first to enter the ISS.

The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) confirmed the interaction in a post on X, formerly Twitter, praising Shukla for his role in a historic mission involving astronauts from India, Hungary, Poland, and the US.

PM Modi: Carrying the hopes of 1.4 billion Indians

Earlier, PM Modi lauded the Ax-4 mission’s successful launch, stating, “Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is on the way to becoming the first Indian to go to the ISS. He carries with him the wishes, hopes, and aspirations of 1.4 billion Indians.”

Reflecting on his space journey, Group Captain Shukla described the launch aboard the Dragon spacecraft ‘Grace’ as ‘magical’.

“After 30 days of quarantine, I just wanted the launch to happen. When it finally did, it was something else entirely. You’re pushed back into the seat—and then suddenly, silence. You’re floating. It’s magical,” he shared.

He expressed deep gratitude to the entire mission team, calling the success a “collective achievement.”

Historic arrival at the ISS

The Ax-4 crew—comprising former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, ESA astronauts Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski (Poland) and Tibor Kapu (Hungary), and Group Captain Shukla- successfully docked with the space-facing port of the Harmony module at 4:05 PM IST, ahead of schedule.

The Expedition 73 team welcomed them aboard with a safety briefing.

Upon his arrival, Shukla called it a “privilege” to be the 634th person to enter space.

“To see Earth from this vantage point is truly wonderful. The ISS crew welcomed us like family. My expectations were exceeded,” he said.

After receiving his astronaut pin from Commander Whitson, he added, “The Tricolour I wear on my shoulder makes me feel the entire country is with me.”

Message to Indians: This is your achievement too

In his message to Indians back home, Shukla said, “Thanks to your love and blessings, I have reached the ISS safely. It may look easy to stand here, but it’s not—my head aches, but we’ll get used to it. For the next 14 days, we’ll conduct scientific experiments and stay connected. This is a national milestone.”

The Ax-4 crew will spend two weeks aboard the ISS, conducting a wide range of scientific experiments, educational outreach, and commercial activities.

Shukla’s role in leading the scientific mission marks a significant moment for India’s space ambitions and international collaborations.

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