Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhashu Shukla is on his way to the International Space Station (ISS). Axiom Space shared a post on X where Shubhashu described the thrilling experience of his space journey. Shubhashu expressed that while seated in the Dragon capsule on launch day, he kept thinking about the 30-day quarantine and eagerly awaited its end.
He felt immensely proud as the tricolor on his shoulder signified the support of all countrymen. This is a significant step for India's human spaceflight ambitions. Feel proud with me, as through my journey, you experience it too. Shubhashu shared these thoughts while heading to the space station aboard Dragon.
In the Axiom-4 mission, Shubhashu serves as a pilot alongside Commander Peggy Whitson (USA), Slawosz Uznański-Wiśniewski (Poland), and Tibor Kapu (Hungary). Shubhashu sent his first message from space: 'Greetings, my dear countrymen, what a ride! After 41 years, we are in space again.'
Shubhashu Shukla is cheerfully heading towards the ISS, and his journey fills all of India with pride. A post by @Axiom_Space on X showcased how he enjoyed floating in microgravity and the mesmerizing beauty of Earth. Shubhashu said that this is not just his journey, but the dawn of India's space program.
Current Status
The spacecraft is 400 meters from the ISS and is set to dock at 4:30 PM IST. The Dragon is orbiting Earth at 28,000 km/h at an altitude of 418 km. @Axiom_Space wrote on X, “Ax-4 Mission | In-flight Update: The crew is strong and excited.”
Shubhashu shared that space travel feels like a dream come true. He said, “After launch, viewing Earth from beneath felt like a painter mixing blue and green on a canvas. Floating in microgravity is fun, though initially quite strange.” His words resonated with laughter and excitement.
Read More: Just a few more hours... Track Shubhashu's spacecraft and see how far it is from the space station
Shubhashu recounted that 10 minutes after launch, as the Dragon separated from the rocket, he glimpsed the sun's radiance and stars through a window. It was incredible for him. He shared light-hearted moments with his crew and tried some yoga poses. Shubhashu described maneuvering by grabbing handles while floating along the walls.
Shubhashu mentioned that sipping water from a pouch through a straw is a bit challenging but enjoyable. He felt the support of 1.4 billion people while donning the tricolor on his space suit.
