As India celebrates a historic milestone with the successful launch of the Axiom-4 mission to the International Space Station (ISS), all eyes are on Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla. But before embarking on this historic journey, the astronaut took a moment to share a deeply personal message that has captured hearts across the country.

The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft carrying Shukla and three fellow astronauts lifted off from NASA's Kennedy Space Centre in Florida on June 25. While the mission marks a proud chapter in India's space legacy, Shukla's heartfelt tribute to his family members and wife added an emotional depth to the historic event.

twitter

Shubhanshu Shukla's heartfelt message before historic space travel

Ahead of the launch, Shukla took to Instagram to share two images, featuring pre-launch preparations and a touching photo with his wife, Kamna Shubha Shukla.

His message stated, "As we plan to leave the planet early morning of 25 Jun, I wish to thank everyone who has been involved in this mission for their support and also to all the people back home for their blessings and love,” Shukla wrote. “A big thank you to family and friends who have been my bedrock in this journey. Sometimes your close ones make sacrifices that you do not even fully understand but they do so out of their love for you."

'Without you none of this was possible'

In a special mention, Shukla poured his heart out to his wife, “Special thanks to @kamnashubha for being the wonderful partner that you are. Without you none of this was possible but more importantly none of this would matter.”

Concluding his note with a deep appreciation for everyone who played a role in his space journey, he added, “No one travels to space alone… we do so on the shoulders of so many more. I feel grateful to each and every one of you. THANK YOU. ”

Kamna’s reply was equally moving: “You make me proud every day, my love ❤️.”