Billion Dreams, Tearful Moments & Pride: India’s Shubhanshu Sharma Heads To Space With Axiom-4 Launch, See Pics

The Axiom-4 mission carrying Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla has finally launched on a historic space mission from Kennedy Space Centre in Florida on Wednesday and will dock at the International Space Station in a few hours. (Image: X)

The aircraft is carrying Shukla, who will be the pilot, along with Axiom-4 commander Peggy Whitson and mission specialists Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski and Tibor Kapu. (Image: X)

The SpaceX spacecraft carrying the Axiom-4 crew is orbiting the Earth and will reach the space station at 7 am ET (4:30 pm Indian time). (Image: SpaceX)

After docking, the Axiom-4 astronauts will greet the seven Expedition 73 crewmates, call down to Earth for welcoming remarks, then participate in a safety briefing with the station residents, NASA said. (Image: X)

Shubhanshu Shukla is only the second Indian to venture into space after a gap of 40 years since Rakesh Sharma’s legendary spaceflight in 1984. (Image: Reuters)

Indian Air Force Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, preparing to board a SpaceX spacecraft bound for the International Space Station (ISS), shared a message with his family: "Just wait for me, I'm coming." (Image: X)

His parents, Shambhu Shukla and Asha Shukla, were teary eyed as they watched the live broadcast of Axiom 4 space mission in Lucknow, on Wednesday. (Image: PTI)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said, “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.” (Image: X)