PM Modi interacts with astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has interacted with Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, who is aboard the International Space Station (ISS) as part of the Axiom-4 mission, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said on Saturday (June 28, 2025).

Group Captain Shukla created history on Wednesday (June 25, 2025) by embarking on a journey to the ISS as part of a commercial mission operated by Axiom Space, along with three other astronauts.

This marks the first space journey by an Indian astronaut in 41 years since Rakesh Sharma flew aboard a Russian spacecraft.

After the launch of the Axiom-4 mission on Wednesday (June 25, 2025),Mr. Modi, in a post on X, said, “We welcome the successful launch of the Space Mission carrying astronauts from India, Hungary, Poland and the US. 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, hopes and aspirations of 1.4 billion Indians. Wish him and other astronauts all the success!“