Is Shubhanshu Shukla’s Space Journey a Milestone for Gaganyaan's Human Spaceflight Mission?

New Delhi, June 25 (NationPress) The expedition of Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla to the International Space Station marks a significant milestone for Gaganyaan -- India's ambitious human spaceflight initiative launched on Wednesday.

After a gap of 41 years, India now boasts an astronaut in space. Shukla will become the second Indian to venture into space, following Rakesh Sharma's historic flight in 1984.

Shukla's launch occurred at 2:31 a.m. EDT (12 noon IST) from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, utilizing a new SpaceX Dragon spacecraft aboard a Falcon 9 rocket.

According to R.C. Kapoor, a scientist at the Indian Institute of Astrophysics and space expert, "Shubhanshu Shukla's mission to the space station is essential for India as we prepare for the Gaganyaan mission. We have trained four astronauts extensively, first in Russia and subsequently in Bengaluru. Shukla’s space experiments will provide invaluable insights for Gaganyaan."

Lt. Gen. AK Bhatt (retd.), Director General of the Indian Space Association (ISpA), expressed pride in Shukla's achievement, stating, "This journey not only highlights India's expanding influence in space exploration but also serves as a crucial step towards our goals with Gaganyaan, our indigenous human spaceflight program."

The Gaganyaan mission is currently in its final stages, with a launch anticipated in 2027.

Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State for Science and Technology, congratulated Shukla, saying, "You are the first Indian astronaut slated to embark on a mission to the International Space Station. A proud moment for India! The nation's growing global partnerships in space, following reforms initiated by PM Narendra Modi, have positioned India as a leader in space exploration."

Shukla serves as the pilot of the mission alongside Commander Peggy Whitson from the US. The crew also includes Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski from Poland and Tibor Kapu from Hungary, who are mission specialists.

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal shared his best wishes for Shukla, stating, "A historic moment! Wishing Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla great success on his mission to the International Space Station. 140 crore dreams soar with you into space!"

Group Captain Shukla emphasized, "This is not solely my journey; I am carrying the Indian flag with me. This represents the journey of India's human spaceflight."

Just before the mission launch, Shukla tweeted, "India is returning to space, Jai Hind." He added, "After 41 years, the Indian flag will once again grace space."

The docking at the orbital outpost's space-facing port on the Harmony module is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. IST on Thursday.

Once aboard the ISS, Shukla will engage in two weeks of scientific research focused on food and space nutrition, including studying the effects of microgravity and space radiation on edible microalgae, a nutrient-rich food source for future space missions.