New Delhi, Jun 25 (PTI) 鈥淜ya kamaal ki ride thi (what an amazing ride),鈥 India鈥檚 astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla remarked as SpaceX鈥檚 Dragon spacecraft entered the orbit around the earth within 10 minutes of launch from NASA鈥檚 spaceport in Florida.
Shukla, who became the second Indian to travel to space, spoke in chaste Hindi to announce India鈥檚 return to space after a gap of 41 years, and urged everyone to be a part of his journey.
鈥淭he Tiranga (Tricolour) on my shoulders tells me that I am not alone and I am with all of you,鈥 the 39-year-old fighter pilot-turned-astronaut said in his first remarks from the earth鈥檚 orbit.
鈥淣amaskar, my dear countrymen. What a ride! We have returned to space after a gap of 41 years and what an amazing ride it was (鈥榢ya kamaal ki ride thi鈥),鈥 he said.
鈥淲e are orbiting the earth at a speed of 7.5 km per second鈥 This is not just the beginning of my journey to the International Space Station, but the beginning of India鈥檚 human space programme and it is my desire that all the countrymen become a part of this journey,鈥 Shukla said.
鈥淵our chest, too, should swell with pride鈥 Together, let鈥檚 embark on this journey of India鈥檚 Human Space Programme. Jai Hind! Jai Bharat,鈥 Shukla said.
Shukla scripted history by embarking on a space odyssey along with three others to the International Space Station as part of a commercial mission by Axiom Space on Wednesday, 41 years after astronaut Rakesh Sharma鈥檚 spaceflight onboard a Russian spacecraft.
The Dragon spacecraft 鈥 named Grace by the astronauts 鈥 is expected to dock at the International Space Station at 4:30 pm IST on Thursday.
The 14-day mission on board the ISS will 鈥渞ealise the return鈥 to human spaceflight for India, Poland and Hungary. PTI SKU ARI