Axiom-4: PM Modi interacts with Shubhanshu Shukla aboard ISS- see pic

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday interacted with Shubhanshu Shukla, who is aboard the International Space Station as a part of the Axiom-4 mission.

Shukla is the first Indian to cross the 'Karman line' in more than 41 years, following Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma’s historic mission aboard the Soviet Soyuz T-11 on April 3, 1984.

From space, Shukla had shared a message: "This isn't the beginning of my journey to ISS, but beginning of India's human space flight programme."The Dragon capsule carrying the Axiom-4 (Ax-4) crew, including Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla — call sign Grace — glided silently through space with its nose cone open and docking sensors ready, successfully linking with the International Space Station on Thursday. This historic moment marked the first time an Indian set foot on the orbiting lab. Soft docking occurred at around 16.02 IST, with the full docking process completed by 16:16 IST. Launched the previous day from Nasa’s Kennedy Space Center, Grace carried out a series of precise orbit-raising manoeuvres during its 28-hour pursuit of the ISS — a standard Dragon mission profile but a remarkable journey for Shukla.