Lucknow: Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, a proud son of Lucknow and an Indian Air Force officer, embarked on a historic journey to the International Space Station (ISS) as part of the Axiom-4 mission. His emotional Instagram post to his wife, family, and friends captured hearts online, highlighting the profound personal sacrifice and immense pride surrounding this monumental achievement. The Axiom-4 mission launched yesterday on June 25, at 12:01 PM IST from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The launch had been previously postponed from June 22.
Shukla's wife, Kamana, shared a touching detail about their relationship, revealing that they first met in primary school in Lucknow. "We had been studying together since the third grade," she said, adding, "We were very good friends. I knew him as Gunjan, Shubhanshu was the shyest boy in our class and is now inspiring so many people."
We welcome the successful launch of the Space Mission carrying astronauts from India, Hungary, Poland and the US.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 25, 2025
The Indian Astronaut, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is on the way to become the first Indian to go to International Space Station. He carries with him the wishes,…
A proud moment for India!
— Yogi Adityanath (@myogiadityanath) June 25, 2025
Heartiest congratulations to Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the Mission Pilot of Axiom Mission 4, on this historic achievement.
Under the visionary leadership of Hon. PM Shri @narendramodi Ji, India’s participation in this international space mission… pic.twitter.com/9AIxvLn4jR
The couple has a 6-year-old son. Shubhanshu's mother, Asha Shukla, lauded her daughter-in-law's unwavering support, emphasizing that this success would not have been possible without her. "This was a moment of pride for us and everyone. Posters were being put up everywhere. Everyone was happy that a man from this country, from this Triveni Nagar, was going to reach such a height. We were sending all our best wishes and blessings to him. Shubhanshu had received full support from his wife. It would not have been possible to do what he was doing without her. She had played the biggest role here," she said.
Tears In Her Eyes, A Son Among The Stars: Lucknow Mother Watches Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla Soar#WATCH | Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh: Mother of IAF Group Captain & astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, Asha Shukla, gets emotional as she cheers for her son, who is part of the #AxiomMission4 pic.twitter.com/62Ki2J3hRU
— ANI (@ANI) June 25, 2025
On Instagram, Shubhanshu posted two photos with a heartfelt message: "As we planned to leave this planet early on June 25, I wanted to thank everyone involved in this mission for their support, and also thank everyone back home for their blessings and love." He continued, "A huge thank you to my family and friends who have been my foundation throughout this journey. Sometimes your loved ones made sacrifices that you did not fully understand, but they did it out of love for you."
He offered special gratitude to his wife, writing, "A special thank you to his wife for being an amazing partner. None of this would have been possible without you, but most importantly, none of this matters. No one travels to space alone. We do it on the shoulders of many. I am grateful to all of you."
The post resonated deeply with users, including his wife, who commented, "You make me proud every day, my love." Other users flooded the comments section with wishes for a "most successful, prosperous,and safe flight."
Axiom-4 Mission: Do You Know About Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla's Pune Connection? Read HereCM Congratulates Shubhanshu
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath congratulated Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla on becoming the mission pilot for the Axiom Mission 4 space mission. The Chief Minister described it as a wonderful example of India’s scientific progress and global cooperation. On his X account, CM Yogi wrote, "This is a proud moment for India. Hearty congratulations and best wishes to Axiom Mission 4's Mission Pilot Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla on this historic achievement. Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visionary leadership, India’s participation in this international space mission shows our commitment to scientific progress and global cooperation. Best wishes for the upcoming mission. Jai Hind!"
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