Lucknow: As Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla soared into space aboard the Axiom-4 mission, his family in Lucknow watched with pride and emotion. The mission, which lifted off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre in Florida on Wednesday, June 25, marked a historic moment for Shukla, and an unforgettable one for his loved ones back home.
A video of Shukla’s parents watching the launch live has also surfaced on social media. In the clip, his mother is seen clapping, cheering, and tearing up with joy as the rocket lifted off.
Have a look at the heartwarming clip here:
“We cannot describe this in words… We are not scared for Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla at all… We are delighted, we are very proud,” said his mother, Asha Shukla, speaking to ANI.
Shubhanshu’s alma mater also turned the launch into a community celebration. Teachers, students, and his parents came together to witness the historic moment via live telecast on a large LED screen. The school organised a ceremonial welcome for his family, complete with festive decorations and a marching band, as a tribute not just to Shubhanshu.
The Axiom-4 mission, initially slated for May 29, faced multiple delays due to technical concerns, including a liquid oxygen leak in the Falcon 9 rocket booster and repair checks on the Russian Zvezda module aboard the ISS. Engineers worked round the clock to address safety risks, causing successive postponements to 8, 10, 11, 19, and 22 June, before the mission finally lifted off on 25 June.
NASA, in an official statement, confirmed, “NASA, Axiom Space, and SpaceX are targeting 2:31 am EDT (12:01 IST), Wednesday, June 25, for launch of the fourth private astronaut mission to the International Space Station, Axiom Mission 4.”
The mission is led by seasoned astronaut Peggy Whitson as commander, with Shubhanshu serving as mission pilot. The international crew also includes Tibor Kapu from Hungary and Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski from Poland.
