Group Captain Shukla Makes History as India Returns to Space with ISS Mission
“What an Amazing Ride”: Group Captain Shukla Ignites National Pride from Space
Group Captain Shukla: India’s return to space took on a bold new meaning on June 25, 2025, when Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla soared into Earth’s orbit aboard SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft, becoming the first Indian astronaut to reach the International Space Station (ISS). As the nation watched with bated breath, the 39-year-old fighter pilot turned astronaut spoke in chaste Hindi, declaring, “Kya kamaal ki ride thi (what an amazing ride),” just minutes after the spacecraft successfully entered orbit.
Addressing his countrymen from the vastness of space, Group Captain Shukla, his voice steady and proud, said, “Namaskar, mere pyare deshvasiyon. Kya zabardast safar tha! After 41 long years, India’s return to space is not just a mission—it’s a moment of rebirth for our space ambitions.”
Clad in a sleek spacesuit with the Indian Tricolour proudly emblazoned on his shoulder, Shukla’s words struck a deeply emotional chord: “The Tiranga on my shoulders tells me I am not alone. I carry with me the dreams, pride, and spirit of a billion Indians.”
Group Captain Shukla: A Journey Fueled by Dreams and Discipline
Born in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, Shukla—known by his call sign “Shux”—spent over a decade mastering the skies as a fighter pilot in the Indian Air Force. With more than 2,000 flying hours logged on combat aircraft like the Sukhoi Su-30 and Mirage 2000, his journey to space was built on precision, discipline, and sheer determination.
His sister, Suchi Shukla, fondly recalls the early spark that lit his passion. “He was mesmerized by an air show we attended as children. Shukla told me later how he was awed by the roar and grace of the jets. That’s when his dream began to take flight.”
Today, that childhood dream has crossed the final frontier.
A Nation’s Pride Reignited
Shukla is the second Indian ever to travel to space, following the legendary Rakesh Sharma’s mission in 1984. Yet, he is the first Indian astronaut on the International Space Station, a milestone made possible through a collaborative effort between ISRO, NASA, and private space company Axiom Space.
The Dragon spacecraft—aptly named Grace—blasted off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre in Florida aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. Alongside astronauts from Poland, Hungary, and the United States, Shukla is on a 14-day mission that symbolizes not just international cooperation, but India’s return to space in a modern and commercial space era.
“We’re orbiting Earth at a speed of 7.5 kilometers per second,” Shukla said. “But this is not just the start of my journey—it is the dawn of India’s human spaceflight programme. My deepest wish is for all countrymen to feel part of this mission.”
Group Captain Shukla: Docking with Destiny
The Dragon spacecraft is scheduled to dock with the ISS at 4:30 p.m. IST on Thursday, June 26. For India, the moment marks not only a technological achievement but a renewal of purpose and pride.
“Let your chest swell with pride,” Shukla urged. “Let us embark together on this path of discovery and progress. Jai Hind! Jai Bharat!”
His passionate appeal has resonated deeply back on Earth, with social media flooded with tributes, congratulatory messages, and emotional reactions from citizens, space enthusiasts, and fellow armed forces personnel alike.
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