PM Modi congratulates Axiom-4 crew, says Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla carries the aspirations of 1.4 billion Indians

PM Modi Congratulates Axiom-4 Crew

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday welcomed the successful launch of the Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4), a historic spaceflight carrying astronauts from India, Hungary, Poland and the United States to the International Space Station (ISS). In a post on X, the Prime Minister extended his best wishes to all astronauts aboard the mission and highlighted the pride of seeing an Indian flying to space once again after 41 years.

“The Indian Astronaut, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, is on the way to become the first Indian to go to the International Space Station. He carries with him the wishes, hopes and aspirations of 1.4 billion Indians,” PM Modi wrote. “Wish him and other astronauts all the success!”

We welcome the successful launch of the Space Mission carrying astronauts from India, Hungary, Poland and the US.

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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,…

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 25, 2025

Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, a decorated officer from the Indian Air Force, is piloting the Ax-4 mission aboard the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft that lifted off from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida earlier in the day. The mission marks India's return to space humanflight after 1984, when Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma made history aboard the Soviet Soyuz T-11 spacecraft.

The Ax-4 crew is expected to dock with the ISS on Thursday, June 26. Once aboard, they will conduct a range of scientific experiments, technology demonstrations, and outreach activities during their 14-day stay.

Prime Minister Modi’s statement comes as India’s space ambitions continue to soar, with ISRO and Indian astronauts playing a growing role in international missions and partnerships. The Ax-4 mission also includes astronauts from Poland, Hungary, and the US, underscoring global cooperation in the new era of space exploration.