Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla said it best when he remarked that the tiny Indian flag he is carrying to space represents each of the 140 crore Indians. His words capture the pride and significance of his mission—India’s most ambitious human spaceflight effort since Rakesh Sharma’s historic journey 41 years ago.

IAF fighter pilot Shubhanshu Shukla will supervise the critical docking phase of Axiom-4 Mission as the NASA spacecraft will make the rendezvous, line up and approach the Space Station for a smooth capture.

Speaking from the ISS, Shubhanshu Shukla delivered a heartfelt message to his fellow Indians, reflecting on the emotional and physical challenges of the mission and promising an exciting scientific journey ahead.