Shubhanshu Shukla Eyes Made in India Spaceflight

New Delhi: Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, fresh from a successful mission to the International Space Station (ISS), on Thursday expressed hope that an Indian would soon travel to space “from our own capsule, from our rocket, from our soil.”

Speaking at a press conference, Shukla said his two-week stay aboard the ISS as part of the Axiom-4 mission was an “unbelievable and invaluable experience” that went far beyond any training. “No matter how much training you have done, the moment the rocket engines ignite, it is a completely different feeling,” he recalled, describing the launch as both overwhelming and exhilarating.

Shukla, the first Indian astronaut to visit the ISS, said the lessons from this mission would prove crucial for India’s upcoming Gaganyaan programme. Recalling astronaut Rakesh Sharma’s 1984 words, he added, “India still looks saare jahaan se achcha (better than the entire world).”

Union Minister Jitendra Singh, also present, said India’s space programme has embraced global standards in recent years, aligning its strategies and benchmarks with the world’s best.

Gaganyaan crew member Group Captain Prasanth B. Nair likened the mission’s teamwork to the Ramayana, saying, “If I can call myself Lakshman to Shukla’s Ram, our ISRO team is the vanar sena that made this possible.”

Shukla thanked ISRO, the government, and the people of India for their support. “This was not my mission alone — it was a mission for the entire nation,” he said.

Detailing the journey, he said the crew launched aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida, aboard the Crew Dragon capsule, and splashed down in the Pacific Ocean off San Diego. “The ISS is a unique orbiting laboratory and a shining example of international collaboration,” he noted.