The successful launch of the Axiom-4 mission brought immense joy to the family of Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla in Lucknow. His parents, Shambhu Dayal Shukla and Asha Shukla, were overwhelmed with emotion as they witnessed the launch. The mission, carrying Shukla, was launched after facing several delays, taking off from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre in Florida at 12:01 PM (IST). The mission is being piloted by IAF Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla.
Shambhu Shukla expressed his happiness, attributing the success to divine blessings. Asha Shukla, his mother, shared her emotional state, stating that the family was overjoyed. Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh, watching the launch in Delhi, highlighted the significance of the event for India’s Human Space Programme, calling it a step towards ‘Viksit Bharat’.
Earlier, Shukla’s father had expressed his pride, stating that his son’s achievement brings honor not only to Lucknow but also to the nation. He expressed blessings and prayers for the mission’s success and acknowledged the pride they felt. The Ax-4 crew includes members from India, Poland, and Hungary, marking a historic first for each nation’s mission to the space station and the second government-sponsored human spaceflight mission in over 40 years. The mission involves around 60 scientific studies and activities representing 31 countries, making it one of the most research-focused missions on an Axiom Space mission aboard the ISS to date.