New Delhi

Making history and stirring patriotic pride, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the pilot aboard the private space mission Axiom-4 (Ax-4), delivered an inspiring message to the nation from orbit, marking a significant milestone for India's aspirations in human spaceflight.

"Namaskar, my dear countrymen! What a ride!" began Shukla in a video message from space, as he became one of the few Indians to travel to space — and the first in over four decades since Rakesh Sharma's historic mission in 1984.

An X user posted the vedio:

"Jai Hind, Jai Bharat!" - Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla message to India after becoming second Indian post Rakesh Sharma to reach Space, onboard Axiom-4 on the way to International space stations!

Goosebumps, Exciting day for all Indians! 🥹#ShubhanshuShukla #AxiomMission4 pic.twitter.com/f8OrAgisvf

— Vishal Verma (@VishalVerma_9) June 25, 2025

The Indian Air Force officer is aboard the Axiom-4 mission, a privately funded journey to the International Space Station (ISS), launched by Axiom Space in collaboration with NASA and SpaceX. As the spacecraft orbits the Earth at a staggering 7.5 kilometres per second, Shukla carried the Indian tricolour on his shoulders, symbolizing not just his personal achievement, but a collective national aspiration.

“The Tiranga embossed on my shoulders tells me that I am with all of you,” Shukla said. “This journey of mine is not a beginning to the International Space Station (ISS) but to India’s Human Space Programme.”

Emphasising that his mission is more than a symbolic gesture, Shukla invited fellow citizens to participate in the country’s space future. “I want all of you to be part of this journey. Your chest, too, should swell with pride...Together, let's initiate India's Human Space Programme. Jai Hind! Jai Bharat!”

His message comes at a time when India’s space ambitions are accelerating, with ISRO preparing for the Gaganyaan mission—India’s own manned spaceflight program. Shukla’s journey with Axiom Space is being viewed as a precursor and confidence-booster for India’s foray into sustained human space exploration.

The Axiom-4 mission not only marks a return of an Indian in space after 41 years but also signals a potential shift towards more global collaborations and commercial spaceflight opportunities for Indian talent.

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Group Captain Shukla’s message has already resonated widely on social media, with his words hailed as a call to action for the next generation of Indian scientists, engineers, and dreamers.