Shubhanshu Shukla became the first Indian astronaut to the International Space Station (ISS) on Thursday, stated that he felt better upon reaching the orbital laboratory and that he felt lucky to have been one of the few people to see Earth from that vantage point.
“I am astronaut 634. It is a privilege to be here,” Shukla said during the formal welcome ceremony on the space station.
“The minute I entered the International Space Station and met this crew, you just made me feel so welcome, as if you literally opened your doors, like your house doors, for us,” he said, adding that it’s “a privilege to be among the few who have had the chance to see Earth from this vantage point.”
With Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla onboard, India’s timeless message of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam resonates at the International Space Station.
This historic moment is yet another milestone destination in India’s quest into Space. The foundation for this journey has been laid by… pic.twitter.com/ZnxfgnyUlu---Advertisement---— Hardeep Singh Puri (@HardeepSPuri) June 26, 2025
The Indian astronaut stated that the next two weeks in the ISS will be awesome doing the advancing science and research.
“That is true. It was fantastic. I just feel even better now. Whatever expectations I had of coming here were surpassed by the view, of course, that is a big part of it, but also by you guys,” the Indian astronaut said
“I think this is fantastic, this is wonderful and I am very confident that the next 14 days are going to be amazing, advancing science and research, and working together,” he added.
Shubhanshu Shukla Makes History
Shukla, who debuted at the ISS along with three others, was given the astronaut pin by the Axiom-4 mission commander Peggy Whitson. He became the 634th astronaut that flew into space.
The Axiom 4 Mission’s Dragon spacecraft successfully docked at the orbital laboratory on Thursday after a 28-hour flight around the earth. Veteran astronaut Peggy Whitson is the commander of the mission, and Shukla is the pilot for Axiom-4 mission.
Shukla is a test pilot in the Indian Air Force, and he is the second Indian in space and first one since Rakesh Sharma’s eight-day stay in 1984. He will spend his next 14 days aboard the orbiting laboratory conducting research in microgravity.
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