As the Axiom-4 crew created history after entering the International Space Station, astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla on Thursday described his experience, saying it looked easy standing on camera, but his head felt a little heavy. Shukla, who officially got a Space Station pin, becoming astronaut number 634, said the next two weeks will be exciting.
During his welcome remarks, along with his Axiom-4 crewmates, Shukla said it was a privilege to be amongst the few who have had a chance to see the Earth from a vantage point.
Shukla said that in the next 14 days, he and the other astronauts will conduct scientific experiments and interact with people on Earth. 鈥淭his is also a phase of India鈥檚 space journey. I will keep talking to you. Let us make this journey exciting. I am carrying the Tiranga, and I am carrying all of you with me. The next 14 days will be exciting,鈥 he said.
The Ax-4 crew, launched on a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft from NASA鈥檚 Kennedy Space Centre in Florida, successfully docked at the ISS鈥檚 Harmony module after a 28-hour journey.
Shukla, as mission pilot, flew alongside mission commander Peggy Whitson (US), and mission specialists Sawosz Uznanski (Poland) and Tibor Kapu (Hungary). This achievement marks India鈥檚 triumphant return to human spaceflight, 41 years after Rakesh Sharma鈥檚 historic mission in 1984.
In a message to the people of India, Shukla said, 鈥淏y your love and blessings, I have reached the Space Station. It looks easy standing here, but my head is a little heavy. However, it鈥檚 all good now. It鈥檚 the first phase, and now we will do a lot of science studies. Let鈥檚 make this journey exciting, and I am carrying the Tiranga (tricolour) and I am carrying all of you with me.鈥
The Ax-4 team will spend approximately 14 days aboard the ISS, collaborating with the Expedition 73 crew and conducting more than 60 scientific experiments and educational outreach activities 鈥 the most ambitious research agenda of any Axiom mission to date.
The crew鈥檚 work will encompass projects such as cancer research, DNA repair, and advanced manufacturing, highlighting the increasing importance of commercial and international collaborations in space exploration.