“Namaskar from Space” : Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla Sends First Message from Orbit
In a historic moment for India and space exploration, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla has shared his first message from space aboard the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, expressing excitement and awe as he adjusts to life in orbit.
Speaking during a live stream from SpaceX, Shukla greeted everyone with a heartfelt “Hello everyone, Namaskar from Space,” capturing the pride and joy of representing India in space.
He described his experience so far as thrilling, calling the journey to orbit “amazing.” Sharing glimpses of his adaptation to microgravity, he humorously said, “I’ve been told I’m sleeping a lot—which is a good sign. I’m adjusting well, enjoying the views, and the whole experience. “It feels like being born again—I’m relearning how to move, walk, and even eat in space.”
Adding a note of reflection and humility, he said, “It’s good to make mistakes, but it’s even better to see someone else do that too,” referring to the shared learning experience among the international crew.
A Milestone for India
Group Captain Shukla emphasized the broader significance of his mission, calling it “a small, yet firm and meaningful step for India’s human space program.” His journey marks a pivotal chapter in India’s space ambitions.
Second Indian in Space After 41 Years
Shubhanshu Shukla, 39, is now India’s second astronaut in space, following Rakesh Sharma’s historic 1984 mission on the Soviet Salyut-7 station.
Born in Lucknow and serving as a Group Captain in the Indian Air Force, Shukla now carries the dreams of over a billion Indians as he orbits Earth alongside his crewmates:
Peggy Whitson (Commander and former NASA astronaut)
Tibor Kapu (Hungary)
Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski (Poland)
The crew is part of Axiom Space’s Mission 4 (Ax-4), launched atop a SpaceX Falcon-9 rocket from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 12:01 PM IST. The mission aims to conduct various experiments and technology demonstrations aboard the International Space Station (ISS).
Anticipated Docking and National Pride
The Dragon spacecraft carrying the Ax-4 crew is expected to dock with the ISS around 4:30 PM IST, a significant moment watched closely across the globe.
Back home, Shukla’s journey has sparked waves of pride and congratulations. Tributes and messages poured in from dignitaries and citizens alike. Among them:
President Droupadi Murmu
Prime Minister Narendra Modi
Science & Tech Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh
Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar
Their messages celebrate not just an individual achievement, but a symbolic leap forward in India’s participation in international space exploration.
Disclaimer:
This content has been independently written and is intended for informational and educational purposes only. All facts are based on publicly available sources at the time of writing. Any resemblance to other works is purely coincidental, and every effort has been made to ensure originality and accuracy.