It was a proud and emotional moment for Shambhu Dayal Shukla, father of IAF Group Captain and astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla. As he watched his son take off into space as part of Axiom Mission 4, his joy was clear.
“This feels great… I feel very proud and fortunate that I am the father of such a child,” he said. “This is the happiest day of my life.”
He added that Shubhanshu has always been hardworking and dedicated. “He has always moved ahead of others. Even today, he is doing the same,” he said.
“There is no sorrow, only happiness. There is no fear. Fear is God. God protects everyone.”
Shambhu also had a message for parents and children across the country, “Those who work hard will succeed. There should be no shortage of hard work.”
Axiom Mission 4 lifted off on Wednesday from NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre in Florida, USA. Shubhanshu Shukla is the mission pilot. He is travelling with three other astronauts on a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft launched by a Falcon 9 rocket.
The mission is led by American astronaut Commander Peggy Whitson. Alongside Shukla, the crew includes Hungarian astronaut Tibor Kapu and Poland’s Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski, both serving as mission specialists.
This mission is an important milestone for India’s role in space exploration. Shukla joins a small group of Indians who have gone to space. His journey also shows India’s growing involvement in global space partnerships and inspires more public-private collaboration.
More than just science, the mission carries the dreams of many. Students across India watched the launch with excitement, dreaming of becoming astronauts one day, just like Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla.
“This feels great… I feel very proud and fortunate that I am the father of such a child,” he said. “This is the happiest day of my life.”
He added that Shubhanshu has always been hardworking and dedicated. “He has always moved ahead of others. Even today, he is doing the same,” he said.
#WATCH | Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla's father, Shambhu Dayal Shukla, says, "This feels great...I feel very proud and fortunate that I am the father of such a child...This is the most joyous day of my life..." https://t.co/WxV35En2D9 pic.twitter.com/Dp1SrwRHgg
— ANI (@ANI) June 25, 2025
“There is no sorrow, only happiness. There is no fear. Fear is God. God protects everyone.”
Shambhu also had a message for parents and children across the country, “Those who work hard will succeed. There should be no shortage of hard work.”
Axiom Mission 4 lifted off on Wednesday from NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre in Florida, USA. Shubhanshu Shukla is the mission pilot. He is travelling with three other astronauts on a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft launched by a Falcon 9 rocket.
The mission is led by American astronaut Commander Peggy Whitson. Alongside Shukla, the crew includes Hungarian astronaut Tibor Kapu and Poland’s Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski, both serving as mission specialists.
This mission is an important milestone for India’s role in space exploration. Shukla joins a small group of Indians who have gone to space. His journey also shows India’s growing involvement in global space partnerships and inspires more public-private collaboration.
More than just science, the mission carries the dreams of many. Students across India watched the launch with excitement, dreaming of becoming astronauts one day, just like Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla.
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