Union Minister Jitendra Singh hailed the Axiom-4 mission as a landmark in India’s transformation into a developed nation, describing the launch as a realization of Dr. Vikram Sarabhai’s dream made possible under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. The live telecast at Anusandhan Bhavan saw a standing ovation as visuals of Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla and his crewmates heading to the International Space Station were broadcast.
Shukla, serving as mission pilot, is carrying Indian-designed experiment kits developed by IITs, IISc, and the Department of Biotechnology. The kits will facilitate studies on edible microalgae and their growth under microgravity and cosmic radiation—an innovation aimed at long-duration space missions and future deep-space survival.
Singh credited policy reforms under Modi for elevating India from a technology follower to an equal global partner in space exploration. He called the Axiom-4 launch a testament to India’s rising scientific clout and a precursor to the Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission.
Dignitaries including Australia’s South Governor Frances Adamson, High Commissioner Philip Green, CSIR Director General Kalaiselvi, and other senior science officials attended the event. Docking at the ISS is scheduled for June 26.
