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4 hours ago
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ARTICLE AD BOX
SpaceX Falcon 9 crew member Shubhanshu Shukla waves before departing to pad 39A for a launch to the International Space Station at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. (Photo: AP)
Ten minutes into the launch, Shubhanshu Shukla, India’s astronaut on-board the Axiom-4 mission to International Space Station, made a short statement, asking his countrymen to become a part of his journey, and feel the excitement of space travel.
He said the flight to the International Space Station was not just his journey alone, but marked the beginning of India’s human spaceflight programme. Here is what he said:
“My dear countrymen, Namaskaar. What a ride. After 40 years, we are back in space. What a flight this is. Right now, we are going around the Earth at the speed of 7.5 km a second. On my shoulders, is the Indian tricolour that is telling me that I am not alone here, all of you are with me. This journey to the International Space Station is not my alone, this is the beginning of Bharat’s human spaceflight programme. I would like each one of you to become a part of this journey. You should also feel proud, you should also feel the excitement. Come, let us together mark the beginning of India’s human spaceflight programme. Thank you. Jai Hind. Jai Bharat.”
English (US) ·