Shubhanshu Shukla, an Indian crew member of Axiom Mission 4, has successfully arrived at the International Space Station (ISS), marking a historic moment for India’s space journey. Draped in the Indian tricolour on his shoulder, Shukla’s presence aboard the ISS represents a proud chapter in India’s space ambitions.
The mission, set to last 14 days, will see Shukla engage in a series of scientific experiments. On arrival, he expressed gratitude to the ISS crew for their warm welcome and emphasized his excitement about contributing to the mission’s scientific objectives.
In his first message from the ISS, delivered in Hindi, Shukla said, “A small message for my countrymen, with your love and blessings, I have safely reached the International Space Station. It might look simple to stand here, but it’s not that easy. My head feels heavy and there’s a little uneasiness, but these are small things we’ll get used to soon.”
He added, “We will stay here for 14 days, conduct scientific experiments, and stay connected with you all. This marks the first step in our space journey. I spoke to you from the Dragon spacecraft, and I’ll continue speaking from here as well. I carry the Indian tricolor on my shoulder, and I believe the next 14 days will be thrilling. Jai Hind, Jai Bharat!”
Shukla also praised the ISS crew, saying, “The moment I entered the ISS, you made me feel so welcome like someone opening their home’s door for us.”
The crew travelled aboard the newly introduced Grace spacecraft, the fifth in SpaceX’s Dragon series. The spacecraft successfully docked with the ISS at 6:30 AM EDT (4:01 PM IST) on Thursday, while orbiting above the North Atlantic Ocean.
According to NASA, following a soft docking, a hard mate was achieved when 12 sets of hooks securely locked the spacecraft to the station, establishing communication and power links. The hatch opened two hours later, allowing the astronauts to enter the station.
Shubhanshu Shukla becomes the second Indian to travel to space, following Rakesh Sharma’s landmark mission in 1984. Joining him on Axiom-4 are Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski, Poland’s second astronaut since 1978, and Tibor Kapu, Hungary’s second space traveller in 45 years. The crew launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on Wednesday.
