“Today’s India ambitious, fearless, and confident, standing out from the world”
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday lauded astronaut and Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla for his historic achievement as the first Indian to set foot on the International Space Station (ISS) during an 18-day mission.
Shukla is only the second Indian to travel to space, following cosmonaut Rakesh Sharma’s flight in 1984. Modi highlighted Shukla’s dedication and courage, stating that he has inspired a billion dreams and welcomed him back to Earth. The Prime Minister noted that this milestone contributes to India’s human space flight mission, Gaganyaan. In his farewell address from the ISS, Shukla acknowledged the challenges ahead for India’s space exploration but expressed optimism about the journey. He emphasized that today’s India appears ambitious, fearless, confident, and proud from space, echoing Rakesh Sharma’s sentiment that India looks better than the rest of the world. Group Captain Shukla, born on October 10, 1985, in Lucknow, joined the Indian Air Force as a fighter pilot in 2006 and has extensive flying experience, having flown various aircraft types. He was among four Indian Air Force officers selected for the Gaganyaan mission.
