India's Second Orbit: Shubhanshu Shukla's Stellar Journey

Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla's recent journey into space aboard the Axiom-4 mission marked a significant chapter in India's space exploration history, which he described as the dawn of India's 'second orbit.' Shukla and his teammates recounted their experiences of living in microgravity and performing experiments aimed at furthering humanity's scientific understanding.

In a highlight of his mission, Shukla spoke to the Prime Minister of India, with the national flag ceremonially drifting in the backdrop, epitomizing India's evolved role from a passive observer to an active contributor on the global stage. The mission follows in the footsteps of Rakesh Sharma, who traveled to space in 1984, as India gears up for more ambitious ventures, including its own human space-flight mission, Gaganyaan, set for 2027.

Shukla's return from space was met with widespread affection from the nation. Expressing his gratitude, he lauded the support of the Indian government, ISRO, the Indian Air Force, and NASA, acknowledging their integral part in turning this mission into a reality and suggesting a promising future for India's space endeavors.

(With inputs from agencies.)