Subhanshu Shukla scripted a history

Following a 28-hour journey around the earth, the Dragon spacecraft docked with the International Space Station (ISS) on Thursday evening. This has ensured that Subhanshu Shukla, an Indian Air Force officer from Uttar Pradesh’s Lucknow, has set foot on the ISS. He is the first Indian to visit ISS. Shukla is one among the four astronauts included in the Axiom-4 space programme, and he is the pilot of the spacecraft.
Not just that, Shukla has also become the second Indian to reach space in history, and the first one to reach space after 41 years. In 1984, astronaut Rakesh Sharma reached space in a Soviet Union spacecraft when Indira Gandhi was the Prime Minister.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led BJP government has been giving immense importance to space research. The government has spent about Rs 548 crore for Shukla to be included in the Axiom-4. The government has also allocated Rs 20,000 crore towards Gaganyaan mission, India’s first human space mission. The first human space flight is scheduled for 2027.
Formulating the Indian space policy in 2023 to take the country’s space exploration to the next level is one of the achievements of PM Modi.
Astronauts of the Axiom-4 will conduct immense research on the ISS for 14 days. Shukla’s research is related to agriculture in space. Without a doubt, his trip to the ISS will be a turning point for ISR’s space agriculture and biology research.
His entry into ISS has laid foundation to the successful implementation of Gaganyaan project. The entire country was proud to see him travel in Axiom-4. While commencing his journey, he muttered, ‘Jai Hind, Jai Bharat’, it spread a sense of joy among the citizens.
Let Shukla complete his research and return safely to earth after 14 days. Let’s wait for his safe arrival.