Dr Tahir Chowdhary Hails Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla’s ISS Mission as a “Proud Moment for Every Indian”

Jammu, 25 June 2025: J&K BJP spokesperson Dr Tahir Chowdhary on Wednesday lauded Shubhanshu Shukla’s historic journey to the International Space Station (ISS), calling it a monumental moment that marks India’s glorious return to human spaceflight after 41 years.

Reacting to the successful launch of Axiom-4 mission from the Kennedy Space Centre, Dr Tahir said the event has “reignited the spirit of scientific achievement and national pride across the length and breadth of India, including the people of Jammu and Kashmir.”

“Today, India has touched the stars once again. Shubhanshu Shukla’s journey is not just his alone, it is the journey of 140 crore Indians. This is a proud moment for every Indian, especially for the youth of J&K who now have a new inspiration to dream big,” Dr Chowdhary said in a statement.

Calling it a landmark in the annals of Indian space history, Chowdhary also praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for placing India on the global stage of scientific and technological excellence.

“Under PM Modi’s leadership, India’s space aspirations have received a renewed momentum — be it Chandrayaan, Gaganyaan or now Axiom-4. This mission proves that the new India is bold, ambitious, and unstoppable,” he added.

The Axiom-4 mission, carrying astronauts from India, Hungary, Poland, and the US, was launched aboard SpaceX’s Falcon-9 rocket and is expected to dock at the ISS on Thursday after a 28-hour journey.

Shukla, a Lucknow-born astronaut, is the first Indian to reach the ISS, and only the second Indian in history to go to space after Rakesh Sharma in 1984.

Dr Chowdhary emphasized that such missions inspire the youth of J&K to pursue careers in science and technology.

“In every school of Jammu and Kashmir, this moment must be shown and celebrated. Let our children believe that they too can reach space. Shukla’s success proves that with determination, even the sky is not the limit,” he said.

Chowdhary also applauded the diversity of the mission, which saw astronauts sharing their cultural food in space, including Indian curry and mango nectar.

“Even in space, India’s flavour and culture are shining bright. It’s a moment of pride and soft power,” he said.

Shubhanshu Shukla is expected to interact with students, scientists, and even Prime Minister Modi during his 14-day stay at the ISS, where the crew will conduct over 60 scientific experiments.