India marked a proud moment when Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the country’s first astronaut and an Indian Air Force test pilot, met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi. In an emotional gesture, Shukla gifted the Prime Minister the Indian tricolour that he carried with him during his historic Ax-4 mission to the International Space Station (ISS). The moment was filled with patriotic pride, as the flag symbolised India’s leap into the era of human spaceflight.

During his meeting with PM Modi, Shukla shared the details of his extraordinary journey in space. He described the excitement, the challenges, and the experiments he conducted while living on the ISS. His work included studies on how the human body reacts in microgravity and research on space agriculture, which could help scientists grow food in space. These experiments are important because they directly support India’s upcoming Gaganyaan mission, which will be the nation’s first human spaceflight program developed entirely at home.

Prime Minister Modi praised Shukla for his courage and achievements. He said that Shukla’s mission has inspired millions of Indians, especially the youth, to dream big and aim for the stars. According to the Prime Minister, Shukla’s contribution is not only a personal achievement but also a milestone for India’s progress in space exploration.

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Photograph: (X)

The Indian Parliament also paid tribute to Shukla’s success. Union Minister Jitendra Singh spoke about how Shukla’s mission has advanced India’s goals in human spaceflight and given scientists and engineers new knowledge for the future. Although the Opposition did not take part in the discussion, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor expressed his pride on social media. In a post on X, Tharoor wrote that Shukla’s mission was a historic step for India and a major boost for the Gaganyaan program.

Shubhanshu Shukla’s Ax-4 mission, carried out with international partners, gave India crucial experience in long-duration space travel. Unlike past collaborations, this mission allowed an Indian astronaut to actively participate in daily operations on board the ISS. The knowledge gained from this journey will help India prepare for sending its own astronauts into space in the near future.

This achievement has not only made India proud but has also marked the beginning of a new chapter in the country’s space exploration story. Shukla’s success shows that India is now ready to play an active role in global space missions while building its own path towards the stars.