Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday met Group Captain Shubanshu Shukla, who recently completed the historic mission to the International Space Station as part of the crew in the Axiom-4 Mission. The Chief Minister’s Office, in a post on X, mentioned that Group Captain Shubanshu Shukla, an Air Force officer, astronaut, and proud son of the nation, visited CM Yogi Adityanath at his official residence in Lucknow following the successful completion of the Axiom-4 mission and his safe return from the International Space Station.
Felicitation at his school
Later, Group Captain Shukla attended a special event at his former school, City Montessori in Gomtinagar, where he was warmly welcomed by teachers and students. Speaking on the occasion, he encouraged the young generation to work hard for the nation’s ambitious vision of landing on the moon by 2040. Sharing his thoughts, Shukla said, “This morning, I was feeling quite tired. But then I saw the students waiting on the roads since 7:30 am, smiling despite the heat, and your excitement made all my tiredness go away.”
Message of determination
The astronaut emphasised that the most important quality for success is “perseverance”. He also praised the students for their curiosity and bright outlook. “From my overall experience, I believe the future is full of possibilities. The prospects are there, and we are in the right stage. During my conversations with you while I was on the ISS, no one asked me what life was like in space. Instead, the question was always, how can one become an astronaut? That shows how your thinking is moving in the right direction,” Shukla said.
Historic return to Earth
Group Captain Shukla came back to Earth on July 15 after successfully completing NASA’s Axiom-4 space mission. He arrived in Delhi on August 17. The mission, launched on June 25 from NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre in Florida, made him the first Indian in 41 years to travel to space, marking a proud moment for the country.
