‘Carrying hopes of 1.4 billion Indians’: Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla to pilot Axiom 4 Mission

Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, who will pilot the Axiom 4 Mission, which is now postponed to June 10, said he would carry the hopes and dreams of 1.4 billion Indians into space.

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He urged India to pray for the success of the mission.

“This mission is a milestone for India’s space programme and I request India to pray for the success of the mission. Even stars are attainable, Jai Hind. We will do amazing things for 14 days in orbit,” he said during the interaction of the mission’s crew with the media from the quarantine centre in Florida.

He called the preparation for the human space programme a journey of growth and discovery. “I reflect on the path that has brought me here. From diverse systems to advanced platforms this training has been intense but fruitful. Your (India) strength and support has been my anchor. The crew are truly remarkable teammates. I carry the hopes and hearts of a billion hearts,” Shukla said.

He is carrying souvenirs crafted by the National Institute of Design in orbit. “From orbit, I will be speaking live with students and members of India’s space growing industry. I hope to ignite curiosity in young minds. I feel deeply inspired and confident,” he said.

Responding to a media query if he will speak to Prime Minister Narendra Modi from space the way Wing Commander (retd) Rakesh Sharma spoke to former prime minister Indira Gandhi, Shukla said there will be interaction with VIPs. However, he did not name the VIP.

Sharma went to space in 1984.  Shukla said he has been in continuous touch with Sharma.

“Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma was like a mentor and he has been a guide to me right from the selection. He understands very well the challenges we face. I speak to him regularly. I am carrying something for him to space but it will be a surprise,” he said.

He said observing earth from a vantage point and floating in microgravity excites him.

In the space, Shukla will carry Indian delicacies which include mango nectar, moong dal halwa and carrot halwa.

“The food will be shared with colleagues. Going to space will be a mixed bag of emotions. I will miss family and friends,” he said.

The crew will spend 14 days in orbit. They will a carry a doll of swan as a sign of zero gravity indicator. Zero-G indicators serve as a visual confirmation for astronauts and observers on the Earth that the spacecraft has reached space and is experiencing a state of weightlessness. Swan holds religious significance for Indians.

“Swan is believed to have the rare ability to separate milk from water, representing purity, wisdom, and grace. Carrying this symbol reminds me of the delicate balance between knowledge and pressure, and it keeps me grounded in the values I hold dear. I feel inspired, fully prepared, and confident as I embark on this journey,” Shukla said.

Peggy Whitson, who is the commander of the space programme, said the mission will focus on science and tech and outreach activities. “These experiments will benefit people on earth. Our crew underwent rigorous training. We have trained for every scenario bonded as a team. We will be engaging with students around the world. Every mission is different and every crew brings a difference. We want to see the impact of scientific experiments,” she said.

The mission crew includes mission commander Peggy Whitson, a veteran NASA astronaut, and specialists Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski from Poland and Tibor Kapu from Hungary.

The crew will lift off aboard Dragon on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre in Florida.

The launch was earlier scheduled for June 8. NASA in a statement said, “This shift allows teams to account for predicted inclement weather during the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft transport in addition to completing final processing of the spacecraft ahead of launch.”