NEW DELHI, June 25 (Xinhua) -- The family of Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla was excited on Wednesday as the "Axiom Mission 4" (Ax-4) took off from U.S. space agency NASA's Kennedy Space Center with Shukla onboard the key space mission.
Postponed multiple times in the past due to different reasons, the space mission would be headed to the International Space Station (ISS). The four astronauts onboard the Ax-4 were scheduled to spend approximately two weeks on the space station.
The mission's crew was expected to carry out a mission focused on scientific research, educational outreach, commercial projects and technology demonstrations in the Microgravity environment of the ISS.
"For the Indian Space Research Organization and Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, this mission lays the groundwork for India's space roadmap to land an Indian on the Moon by 2040," said an online report by Doordarshan News.
The Indian Air Force's Group Captain Shukla hailed from Lucknow, the capital city of India's northern state of Uttar Pradesh. He was India's second astronaut to travel to space, four decades after Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma made the cosmic journey as part of a Soviet mission in 1984. Shukla had been in quarantine for more than a month to ensure his stable health.
His father Shambhu Dayal was elated to see that his son's achievement brought pride not only to Lucknow, but entire India. Media reports quoted him as saying, "My son's mission is set to launch around 12 noon Indian Standard Time. We are very eager to see his mission launch. We are delighted. Our blessings are with him, and we also pray to God for his mission to be completed well. "
Shukla's mother Asha reportedly said, "Everyone is delighted that a man from this country is going to soar so high. We are sending all our wishes and blessings to him." ■
