Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday interacted with Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the first Indian to reach the International Space Station (ISS). The Axiom-4 mission, carrying Group Captain Shukla and three other crew members, docked with the ISS on June 26.
“PM Narendra Modi interacted with Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, who is aboard the International Space Station,” the Prime Minister’s Office said in a post on X. Group Captain Shukla, who is serving as the Mission Pilot, has become the second Indian to travel to space and the first to set foot on the ISS.
PM @narendramodi interacted with Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, who is aboard the International Space Station. pic.twitter.com/Q37HqvUwCd
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) June 28, 2025
Also Read: Axiom-4 Mission: Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla orbiting Earth, to dock today at space station
‘Wishes of 1.4 billion Indians’
Earlier, following the successful launch of the Axiom-4 mission, Prime Minister Modi hailed the milestone and said, “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 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!”
Group Captain Shukla reflected on the mission with emotion, describing the launch as “magical” and said, “I am thrilled to be here with my fellow astronauts – what a ride it was. Honestly, as I sat in the capsule ‘Grace’ on the launchpad yesterday after 30 days of quarantine, all I could think was: just go. When the launch finally happened, it was something else entirely. You’re pushed back into the seat–and then suddenly, there’s silence. You’re just floating in the vacuum, and it’s magical.”
Successful docking and warm welcome aboard ISS
The Dragon spacecraft carrying the Ax-4 crew docked with the space-facing port of the Harmony module at 4:05 pm IST, ahead of schedule. The crew was warmly welcomed by the seven-member Expedition 73 team and began with a safety briefing.
The Ax-4 team includes former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson (Mission Commander), ISRO astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, ESA astronauts Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski of Poland, and Tibor Kapu of Hungary.
After reaching the ISS, Group Captain Shukla said, “To be fair, it is a privilege to be amongst the few who have got the chance to see the Earth from a vantage point that I have been able to see now. It has been a wonderful ride. I was looking forward to coming to space–it is something to look forward. But the moment I entered the ISS, I felt welcomed. You (Expedition 73 crew) guys literally opened up your doors like your house doors for us, that was fantastic. The expectations I had were surpassed, so thank you so much; this was fantastic. I am confident the next 14 days are going to be amazing doing science and research.”
‘Tricolour on my shoulder feels like entire country is with me’
Speaking of India’s pride and emotional connection to the mission, Shukla said, “I have a small message for my countrymen: It is because of your love and blessings that I have safely reached the International Space Station. It may look easy to stand here, but it is not; my head is aching. However, we will get used to it. We will be here for 14 days, conducting scientific experiments and speaking with you. This is a milestone for India. Let’s make this journey exciting and let everyone participate with interest.”
“The Tricolour I bear on my shoulder makes me feel as though the entire country is with me. I believe the next 14 days are going to be truly interesting,” he added.
What’s next for Shukla and the Ax-4 team
The astronauts are set to spend two weeks aboard the ISS, engaging in scientific experiments, educational outreach, and commercial activities. Group Captain Shukla will lead several experiments as part of India’s collaboration on the Axiom Mission 4.
