PM Modi speaks to Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla on historic space mission

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday spoke with Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the first Indian to reach the International Space Station (ISS), in a historic moment for India’s space programme. The conversation, shared by the Prime Minister on his X handle, showed both men smiling as they interacted. The telecast highlighted the pride and excitement surrounding the achievement.

I had a wonderful conversation with Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla as he shared his experiences from the International Space Station. Watch the special interaction! https://t.co/MoMR5ozRRA

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi)

I had a wonderful conversation with Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla as he shared his experiences from the International Space Station. Watch the special interaction! https://t.co/MoMR5ozRRA

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 28, 2025

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Shukla is the mission pilot of Axiom-4, which launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre in Florida on Wednesday. The mission, operated by SpaceX, involved a 28-hour journey aboard the Dragon spacecraft before a successful docking with the ISS's Harmony module.

Accompanying Shukla were mission commander Peggy Whitson of the United States, and mission specialists Sawosz Uznanski of Poland and Tibor Kapu of Hungary. With this mission, India returns to human spaceflight after 41 years, since Rakesh Sharma’s landmark mission in 1984.

Speaking from the ISS, Shukla reflected on the experience, stating that while it appeared easy on camera, he felt his head was slightly heavy due to the change in gravity. He was officially awarded a Space Station pin, becoming astronaut number 634.

The Axiom-4 crew will spend two weeks conducting research and outreach, marking a new chapter in India's space journey and strengthening international collaboration in space exploration.