Jubilant celebrations erupted across India as the Axiom-4 mission successfully launched with a multi-national crew aboard Axiom Space's spacecraft. Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, leading the mission, will become the first Indian to dock at the International Space Station (ISS), a moment anticipated for over four decades.
This historic liftoff took place on Wednesday from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, with the crew led by experienced astronaut Peggy Whitson. Shukla, along with fellow crew members Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski from Poland and Tibor Kapu from Hungary, marks a significant comeback for these nations in the realm of space exploration.
The mission is a collaborative effort involving NASA, India's space agency ISRO, the European Space Agency, and SpaceX, which has ignited anticipation among space enthusiasts in India. The country's investment of ₹5 billion (approx. $59 million) to secure Shukla's seat and training underscores the importance of this mission in bolstering India's space ambitions.
Minutes into the flight, Shukla expressed pride in carrying the Indian flag, emphasizing, "This is the beginning of India's human spaceflight." With plans to establish a space station by 2035 and a lunar ambition by 2040, ISRO views the Ax-4 mission as vital for training future astronauts.
In Shukla's hometown of Lucknow, his family and students watched the launch, celebrating the momentous occasion with enthusiasm and support. Shukla, a seasoned fighter pilot with over 2,000 hours of flight experience, looks forward to conducting 60 scientific experiments, including crucial Brazilian projects on crop growth and microalgae in microgravity.
This mission not only resumes India's presence in space but sets a precedent for future exploration, uniting a nation of 1.4 billion in its aspirations for the cosmos. As he embarks on this transformative journey, Group Captain Shukla requests prayers and support from all Indians, heralding a new era for the nation's space endeavors.
