Wed Jun 25 16:10:00 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary of the text and a rewritten version as a news article:
**Summary:**
Indian Air Force Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla has become the second Indian to travel to space, 41 years after Rakesh Sharma. He launched aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft as part of a commercial mission to the International Space Station (ISS). His mission is a milestone for India’s human space program. It also marks the return to human spaceflight for Poland and Hungary. The mission, a collaboration between ISRO, NASA, and Axiom Space, involves conducting experiments and interacting with leaders and students back on Earth. Shukla’s family, school, and the nation celebrated his achievement.
**News Article:**
**India Returns to Space: Group Captain Shukla Reaches International Space Station**
**New Delhi – June 25, 2025** – In a moment of national pride, India has marked its return to space after a 41-year hiatus with the successful launch of Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla to the International Space Station (ISS). The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, christened “Grace,” carrying Group Captain Shukla and three international crewmates, lifted off from NASA’s spaceport in Florida earlier today.
“Kya kamaal ki ride thi (What an amazing ride),” exclaimed Group Captain Shukla in Hindi shortly after entering Earth’s orbit. He emphasized that this mission signals the beginning of India’s human space program and urged all citizens to feel a part of this historic journey.
The 39-year-old fighter pilot-turned-astronaut is part of the Ax-4 mission, a commercial spaceflight organized by Axiom Space in collaboration with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), NASA, and international partners. The 14-day mission will involve conducting experiments, including India-centric food research, and interacting with leaders and students.
Group Captain Shukla’s journey follows in the footsteps of Rakesh Sharma, India’s first astronaut who flew aboard a Russian spacecraft in 1984. The current mission also marks the return to human spaceflight for Poland and Hungary.
Back in India, celebrations erupted as news of the successful launch spread. Group Captain Shukla’s family, including his wife and young son, along with his former school, City Montessori School (CMS) in Lucknow, held public viewing parties to witness the momentous occasion.
“We are all overjoyed,” said CMS president Geeta Gandhi Kingdon. “From a curious young learner in our classrooms to a pioneering astronaut, Shux’s story beautifully encapsulates our school’s mission of ‘Education for World Unity and Peace’.”
The Dragon spacecraft is scheduled to dock at the ISS on Thursday, June 26th, at 4:30 p.m. IST. As Group Captain Shukla embarks on his mission, he carries the hopes of a nation eager to explore the final frontier.
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