'Jai Hind, Jai Bharat', the astronaut said in his first message to India from the International Space Station.
New York: Indian Air Force (IAF) Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla scripted history by becoming the first from the country to enter the International Space Station (ISS). After a long and ardent wait of 41 years, India now has an astronaut in space. Lucknow-born Shukla is also the second Indian in space after Rakesh Sharma, who flew to space in 1984.
Shukla, who entered the ISS along with three other astronauts, was given the astronaut pin by Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission commander Peggy Whitson.
"#Ax4 have entered the Space_Station," said Axiom Space in a post on social media platform X, more than an hour after docking. The mission carrying Shukla, along with three others from the US, Poland, and Hungary, had docked to the Harmony module’s space-facing port at 6:30 a.m. ET (4:00 pm IST).
In his first message from ISS, delivered in Hindi, Shukla said he is excited to take part in the science experiments planned for the next 14 days. "A small message for my fellow countrymen. With your love and blessings, I have safely reached the International Space Station. It may look easy to stand here, but it's not that easy," Shukla said.
"For the next 14 days, we will stay here, conduct many scientific experiments, and stay in touch with you. This phase also marks the first step in our own space journey... I'm carrying the Indian Tricolour on my shoulder, and I believe the next 14 days will be thrilling. Jai Hind, Jai Bharat,” he added.
SpaceX Dragon spacecraft named ‘Grace’ carried Ax-4 Commander Peggy Whitson, Pilot Shubhanshu Shukla, and Mission Specialists Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski and Tibor Kapu. NASA added that the crew has "emerged from the Dragon spacecraft and are getting their first look at their home in low Earth orbit".
The AX-4 crew were welcomed onboard the orbital post by seven Expedition 73 crew members, namely, Anne McClain, Nichole Ayers, Kirill Peskov, Jonny Kim, Sergey Ryzhikov, Alexey Zubritsky, and Takuya Onishi.
While recounting his space experience, Shukla said: "I am learning like a baby; how to walk and eat in space". He is carrying carrot halwa, moong dal halwa, and mango nectar with him to satiate his cravings for homemade food in space.
The Axiom-4 Mission is not just a scientific feat but a testament to India’s rising stature as a global technology powerhouse. It reinforces the nation’s capability to lead space innovation, promote sustainability, and contribute meaningfully to global missions. Once aboard the ISS, Shukla will conduct pioneering experiments related to food and space nutrition.
The research will also study the effects of microgravity and space radiation on edible microalgae -- a nutrient-rich, high-potential food source for future space missions. The experiment will evaluate key growth parameters and examine transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomic changes in different algal species in space compared to their behavior on Earth.
Meanwhile, President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended their best wishes to IAF Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla for embarking on a historic mission to become the first Indian to reach the International Space Station (ISS).
