Shubhanshu Shukla space mission: In his farewell address from aboard the International Space Station (ISS), astronaut Shubhansu Shukla Sunday said India’s journey ahead in space exploration may be arduous but has begun.
“41 years ago an Indian came to space and he told us how India looks from up above. Today’s India looks ambitious from space, today’s India looks fearless, today’s India looks confident, today’s India looks full of pride… today’s India still looks ‘saare jahan se acha,” said Shukla, who spoke both in English and Hindi on the eve of the commencement of the Axiom-4 crew’s return journey to Earth.
“Our journey ahead into space exploration may be long and arduous but it has begun,” he said.
The four-member Ax-4 mission had lifted off on June 25 and reached the ISS the next day. While they were supposed to stay for 14 days, the mission was extended by nearly three days due to unfavourable weather.
All four — US’ Peggy Whitson, India’s Shukla, Poland’s Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski, and Hungary’s Tibor Kapu — spoke at the farewell attended by the seven existing ISS crew.
The existing ISS crew members thanked the Axiom astronauts for bringing joy, excitement and inspiration. “Your dedication to science and your professionalism definitely marks a new standard for a private astronaut mission,” said one of the astronauts.
Group Captain Shukla said: “The journey has been an incredible one and far beyond what I had imagined since I arrived at the ISS. I take back fond memories and learnings from the ISS. I believe that the science experiments we performed at ISS will have bigger implications beyond the science itself.”
He also lauded the joint efforts taken by all crew members at the ISS to help the Ax-4 mission.
“The one thing I take back is what humanity can achieve and is capable of doing when we work with a common goal,” he said. “See you soon on Earth,” he signed off.
According to NASA, the Dragon spacecraft undocking is scheduled for 4.30pm IST. After the long flight and if all goes as planned, then the splashdown near the coast of California will be sometime in the afternoon of Tuesday. Thereafter, the astronauts will undergo a rehabilitation program of about seven days under supervision of Flight Surgeons to adapt to Earth’s gravity.
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said that Shukla performed all the planned scientific experiments at ISS. These Indian-led microgravity experiments represented a significant leap in space science and technology, it said.
“It would contribute critical knowledge to support Gaganyaan, Bhartiya Antariksha Station, and future planetary missions,” ISRO said.
