Lucknow's Pride: Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla's Historic Space Mission

Excitement and pride ripple through Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, as Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla prepares to embark on the groundbreaking Axiom-4 mission. Scheduled to launch from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Shukla will join an international crew heading to the International Space Station (ISS), marking a historic moment for India.

Shukla's father, Shambhu Dayal, expressed immense pride in his son's achievements, highlighting the mission's significance for Lucknow and the nation. "We are eager for his mission launch around noon IST. It's delightful to see the posters for him, and he carries our blessings," Dayal stated, reflecting the national and familial pride.

Shukla's mother, Asha Shukla, credited her daughter-in-law's support for this achievement, emphasizing the collective joy in Lucknow's Triveni Nagar. The Axiom-4 mission, set to launch at 2:31 a.m. EDT, brings together crew members from India, Poland, and Hungary, marking their nations' historic return to space after decades.

Commanded by Peggy Whitson, with mission specialists from Europe, the crew will travel on SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft. For Shukla, this mission is a chance to follow in the footsteps of Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma, India's pioneering spacefarer, while advancing India's ambitious space goals, including lunar aspirations.

(With inputs from agencies.)