NEW DELHI: Hours after entering the International Space Station (ISS), Axiom-4 crew member Shubhanshu Shukla on Thursday said his arrival at the space station marks India’s first step in its own space journey.In his first message from ISS, delivered in Hindi, Shukla said he is excited to take part in the science experiments planned for the next 14 days.“A small message for my fellow countrymen. With your love and blessings, I have safely reached the International Space Station. It may look easy to stand here, but it’s not that easy. My head feels heavy and there’s a little discomfort, but these are very small things, and in a few days we’ll get used to them,” Shukla said.“For the next 14 days, we will stay here, conduct many scientific experiments, and stay in touch with you. This phase also marks the first step in our own space journey. I spoke to you a little while ago from the Dragon spacecraft, and I will keep speaking from here as well. Let’s make this journey exciting and participate with great enthusiasm. I’m carrying the Indian Tricolour on my shoulder, and I believe the next 14 days will be thrilling. Jai Hind, Jai Bharat,” he added.Shukla also thanked the ISS crew for their warm welcome, saying all his expectations had been surpassed.“It has been a wonderful ride – I was looking forward to coming to space. The minute I entered the ISS and met this crew, you made me feel so welcome, as if you literally opened your house doors for us. Whatever expectations I had have been surpassed – by the view, of course, but also by you. Thank you so much,” he said.“I’m very confident the next 14 days will be amazing as we advance science and research together,” he added.The newly launched spacecraft, the fifth in SpaceX’s Dragon series and named Grace, completed docking with the ISS while orbiting above the North Atlantic Ocean.“At 6:31 am EDT (4:01 pm IST) on Thursday, the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft docked to the International Space Station for the fourth private astronaut mission to the orbiting laboratory, Axiom Mission 4,” NASA said in a statement.After the initial soft-docking, a secure connection known as hard-mating was achieved when 12 sets of hooks locked the spacecraft and station together, enabling communication and power links. Hatch-opening procedures took about two hours before the astronauts could enter the ISS.Shubhanshu Shukla is now the second Indian to travel to space, after Rakesh Sharma’s 1984 mission. Joining him on Axiom-4 are Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski, Poland’s second astronaut since 1978, and Tibor Kapu, Hungary’s second space traveller in 45 years. The crew launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on Wednesday en route to the ISS.
