Subhechcha Ganguly 
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla etched his name in history on June 26 by becoming the second Indian ever to travel to space — and the first in 41 years — as part of the Axiom-4 mission, a landmark commercial spaceflight operated by Axiom Space. The mission, which includes astronauts from Hungary, Poland, and the United States, successfully docked with the International Space Station (ISS) on Wednesday.
In a historic moment two days later, Shukla, now aboard the ISS, interacted with Prime Minister Narendra Modi via video call. During the conversation, he shared a message that captured the spirit of India’s aspirations:
“Sky is never the limit — not for you, not for me, and certainly not for India.”
Reflecting on the deeper meaning of his mission, Shukla added,
“If you build your future with commitment and clarity, the nation’s future will be bright too. Keep this one belief in your heart — there are no limits to what we can achieve.”
The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) confirmed the interaction with a post on X (formerly Twitter), stating:
“PM Narendra Modi interacted with Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, who is currently aboard the International Space Station.”
PM Modi lauded the astronaut’s accomplishment and said,
“Your historic journey will inspire countless students to pursue the dream of space exploration.”
This milestone marks the first time an Indian has reached the ISS, making it a significant leap in India’s space journey since Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma’s legendary spaceflight in 1984. Shukla, who is serving as Mission Pilot, described his journey as not just personal, but a national achievement.
“This isn’t my journey alone — it belongs to our entire nation. Representing India in space fills me with pride,” he said.
Sharing his view from orbit, Shukla remarked,
“India looks grander and more majestic from space than it ever could on a map.”
In a post after the mission’s successful launch, PM Modi had written:
“The Indian astronaut, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, is on his way to become the first Indian to visit the International Space Station. He carries with him the hopes and aspirations of 1.4 billion Indians. We wish him and the crew a successful mission!”
Describing the launch day, Shukla recalled the thrill of liftoff:
“After 30 days in quarantine, sitting in the capsule ‘Grace’ on the launchpad, all I wanted was for it to begin. And when it did — the push, the silence, the feeling of floating — it was magical.”
He ended his message by expressing deep gratitude:
“This is not just a personal achievement. It’s a collective victory — the result of tireless efforts by many. I’m deeply thankful to everyone who made this possible.”
With this mission, India has not only reaffirmed its space ambitions but also inspired a new generation to look up and believe: the sky is just the beginning.
