PM Modi Commends Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla on India's Human Spaceflight Milestone
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Air Force Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, India's pioneering astronaut aboard the International Space Station (ISS), at his official residence located at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg on Monday. This meeting was significant for India's space endeavors as it focused on discussions regarding the upcoming Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission.
During their discussion, Shukla presented Prime Minister Modi with the Axiom-4 mission patch and shared captivating photographs of Earth taken from space. Prime Minister Modi praised Shukla’s accomplishments and highlighted the necessity of documenting his training and experience at the ISS. This documentation is intended to serve as a reference for the Gaganyaan mission, India's first attempt at sending humans into space.
Shukla returned to Earth on July 15 after an 18-day mission with astronauts Peggy Whitson from the United States, Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski from Poland, and Tibor Kapu from Hungary. Together, they conducted over 60 scientific experiments and engaged in 20 outreach sessions, enhancing international collaboration in the field of space science.
Earlier in the day, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla praised Shukla’s mission, and the Lower House engaged in a special discussion focusing on the impact of space exploration on India’s developmental plans for 2047. On Sunday, upon his return to New Delhi, Shukla was given a grand welcome. He was greeted by Union Minister Jitendra Singh, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan, and enthusiastic crowds waving the Indian flag.
Shubanshu Shukla's journey represents a significant milestone, making him the second Indian astronaut to travel to space since Rakesh Sharma in 1984. As India advances toward the Gaganyaan mission, Shukla’s experiences are expected to be instrumental in shaping the mission and enhancing the country's standing in global space exploration.
