Latest news with #Mission-4
Mint
30-06-2025
- Politics
- Mint
Gajar ka halwa, moong dal halwa, aam ras go to Space: Shubhanshu Shukla tells PM Modi desi treats loved by ISS crew
Axiom Mission-4 Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the second Indian to reach space and the first to reach the International Space Station (ISS), spoke with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, sharing a glimpse of Indian culture and his awe-inspiring experience in space. During the interaction, Shukla revealed he brought traditional Indian treats—gajar ka halwa, moong dal ka halwa and aam ras—for himself and fellow astronauts, who all enjoyed the rich flavours. 'Yes, I brought gajar ka halwa, moong dal ka halwa and aam ras. I wanted everyone who has joined me from other countries to enjoy the rich Indian culinary. All of us had it together and everyone liked it,' said Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla to PM Modi. Reflecting on his first view of India from orbit, Shubhanshu Shukla described the country as 'very big and grand.' He explained, 'Jab pehli baar Bharat ko dekha, Bharat sach mein bohat bhavya dikta hain, jitna ham map pe dekhten hain, usse kahin jyada bada (When we saw India for the first time, we saw that India looks very grand, very big, much bigger than what we see on the map).' Shubhanshu Shukla's statements seemed to echo a similar statement made by Rakesh Sharma, the first Indian to reach Space. Rakesh Shamra when talking to India's then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, has replied "Sarein Jahan se achcha, Hindustan Humara', when the latter asked him how India looked like from up above. Shubhanshu Shukla also shared the unique experience of witnessing 16 sunrises and sunsets a day while orbiting, adding, 'Our nation is moving forward at a very great pace.' From the International Space Station (ISS), Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla observed the Earth as a borderless entity. 'The first view was of the Earth and after seeing the Earth from outside, the first thought and the first thing that came to mind was that the Earth looks completely one, no border is visible from outside. When we see the Earth from outside, it seems that no border exists, no state exists, no countries exist. We all are part of humanity, and the Earth is our one home, and all of us are in it,' he said. As the second Indian to reach space, Shubhanshu Shukla expressed immense pride in the country's achievement. 'I am feeling very emotional and happy after having a conversation with you and 140 crore Indians. I feel very proud as India has reached the International Space is a collective achievement of the whole nation,' he said. Shubhanshu Shukla urged young people to persevere and dream big. 'The message I would like to give our young generation is that India has seen very bold and high dreams and to fulfil those dreams, we need all of you. There is no single way to success, but one thing that is common in every path is that you should never stop trying. If you adopt this basic mantra, then success may come today or tomorrow, but it will definitely come.' He added, 'I want to send a message to the younger generation that if you work hard, the future of the nation will be good. The sky is never the limit.' With India's first human space mission, Gaganyaan, entering its final phase, Shubhanshu Shukla is absorbing every lesson. 'I am confident that these lessons will be highly valuable for us and that we will apply them effectively in the coming missions,' he said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the growing enthusiasm among India's youth for science and space exploration. 'There is a new enthusiasm to explore space... Today, children not only look at the sky, but they think they can reach it. This spirit is the base of our future space missions... We have to take Mission Gaganyaan forward, we have to make our own space station, and we have to ensure that an Indian astronaut lands on the Moon,' he said. Shubhanshu Shukla revealed that Indian scientists have prepared seven unique experiments for the mission. 'I can say with great pride that for the first time Indian scientists have prepared seven unique experiments which I have brought here to the station. The first experiment, which is scheduled today, is on stem experiment focuses on how we can prevent or delay muscle loss in space by taking a specific supplement. We will also see if these supplements can be beneficial for older people on Earth as well,' he explained.
Hans India
27-06-2025
- Science
- Hans India
Chiranjeevi, Kamal congratulates Shubhanshu Shukla as he docks at ISS
India marked a monumental moment in space exploration as Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla successfully docked at the International Space Station (ISS) aboard Axiom Space's Mission-4, becoming the first Indian to reach the orbiting laboratory in 41 years. The milestone triggered a wave of celebration across the nation, with Telugu megastar Chiranjeevi and Tamil actor-politician Kamal Haasan among the many who congratulated Shukla. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Chiranjeevi wrote, 'Proud, proud moment for all Indians. Heartiest congratulations to our space hero Grp. Cpt. @IndiaInSky #Shux for becoming only the second Indian astronaut to carry out this space mission! You have made history!' Kamal Haasan echoed similar sentiments, stating, 'So proud today, as Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla journeys to the International Space Station, joining the immortal Rakesh Sharma in the stars. I look forward to the day our tricolour rises to the skies on an Indian rocket.' Shukla, a native of Lucknow, has now joined the elite ranks of Indian astronauts, following Rakesh Sharma's iconic spaceflight in 1984. The Ax-4 mission, aboard SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft named Grace, docked successfully at the Harmony module of the ISS at 6:30 a.m. ET (4:00 p.m. IST) on Thursday. Alongside Shukla, the mission includes Commander Peggy Whitson (USA), and mission specialists Sławosz Uznański (Poland) and Tibor Kapu (Hungary). SpaceX confirmed the achievement with a post on X: 'Docking confirmed!' The mission marks a proud new chapter in India's space journey.
NDTV
09-06-2025
- Science
- NDTV
"He Has Always Been Determined": Indian Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla's Father To NDTV
Quick Read Summary is AI generated, newsroom reviewed. Shubhanshu Shukla is set to become the first Indian astronaut at the ISS in 41 years. His parents express immense pride and excitement ahead of his historic mission. Mr Shukla has been dedicated to his goals since childhood, showing strong perseverance. New Delhi: The parents of Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla are filled with excitement and pride as their son is set to lift off to the International Space Station (ISS) tomorrow. Mr Shukla will be the first Indian astronaut to reach the ISS in 41 years - after Rakesh Sharma. According to Mr Shukla's father, Shambhu Dayal Shukla, the astronaut has always been determined. "Shubhanshu has always been the kind of person who, when he decides to do something, puts in all his hard work and dedication. He's been working hard for this mission, too. We wanted him to have a government job initially. But we never stopped him from following his dream, joining the force. We never even thought of saying no," Mr Shambhu told NDTV. Mr Shukla joined the National Defence Academy (NDA) at the age of 16. "He always kept preparing for one mission after another. We get to know when he has completed it. And then, he always strives to do more. We can never shout at him either, because no matter how angry we are, when he comes in front of us, we calm down naturally," Mr Shukla's father said. The Indian astronaut's mother, Asha Shukla, told NDTV that he never used to go out of the house to play. "He was brilliant at studying. He was never mischievous. There were no complaints from his teachers, they only used to praise him. But he never used to go out and play. He used to play at home with his sisters," Ms Shukla said. She said that they are extremely excited for Mr Shukla's mission, which she cannot even express in words. "It is a very emotional and proud moment for us. Till now, everyone used to remember Rakesh Sharma; now they will also remember Shubhanshu Shukla," she said. Born in October 1985 in Lucknow, Mr Shukla's journey to the stars began in the classroom. He was inspired by the heroic soldiers during the Kargil War. Determined to serve his country, Mr Shukla cleared the UPSC NDA exam and earned a bachelor's in computer science from the NDA in 2004. In 2006, he was commissioned into the Indian Air Force. He quickly distinguished himself as a combat leader and test pilot. In 2019, he was shortlisted by the Institute of Aerospace Medicine for ISRO's astronaut training group. In 2024, PM Modi officially announced his name as one of the four astronauts for the Gaganyaan mission. The US-based Axiom Space is set to launch its Mission-4, carrying Mr Shukla, along with three others, from the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on June 10 at 5:52 pm IST. The mission was deferred three times before. According to NASA, the delay was to "account for weather during vehicle transportation and completing final processing of the vehicle ahead of launch".
