Lucknow witnessed emotional celebrations as the Axiom-4 mission, carrying Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, successfully launched. His parents, Shambhu Dayal Shukla and Asha Shukla, expressed their elation and were moved to tears while watching the launch. The liftoff occurred at 12:01 PM (IST) from the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida. The mission is piloted by IAF Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla.
Shambhu Shukla attributed the event’s success to God’s blessings, sharing his happiness with the public. His wife, Asha Shukla, described the family’s reaction as tears of joy. Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh, viewing the launch from Delhi, described it as a significant event for India’s Human Space Programme and an important step toward the nation’s development.
Earlier, Shubhanshu Shukla’s father had asserted that his son’s success was a matter of national pride. He expressed his blessings and prayers for a successful mission, highlighting the joy and honor his son brought to their city and country. The Ax-4 mission is a historic collaborative effort with members from India, Poland, and Hungary. It represents the first mission to the space station for each nation, and is the second government-sponsored human spaceflight in over four decades. The Ax-4 mission includes about 60 scientific studies and activities representing 31 countries, marking a substantial scientific endeavor for an Axiom Space mission on the ISS.