Watch Shubhanshu Shukla’s Mother Cheer And Blow Kisses As He Launches Into Space

As India watched with pride, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla of the Indian Air Force launched into space aboard SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket as part of the Axiom Mission 4 mission. Back in Lucknow, it was a deeply emotional moment for his parents. His mother, overwhelmed with pride, blew kisses toward the screen, while his father expressed joy and pride, saying, "He's always dreamt of flying, but today he flew into space. This is not just his moment, but the country's."

Axiom Mission 4 marks a major milestone, with Shukla becoming the first Indian Air Force officer to pilot a commercial spaceflight and the youngest astronaut trained under India's Gaganyaan human spaceflight programme. The mission, which launched from NASA's Kennedy Space Centre, includes a four-member crew comprising Dr Peggy Whitson, Slawosz Uznanski, Tibor Kapu and Shukla.

A graduate of the National Defence Academy, Shukla has logged over 2000 flying hours on aircraft like the Su 30 MKI, MiG 29 and Jaguar. Before liftoff, he listened to Vande Mataram from the 2024 film Fighter, reflecting his deep military roots.

For the Shukla family and for India, the launch was more than a scientific milestone. It was a proud and emotional celebration of national achievement.