Kamaal ki ride: Shubhanshu Shukla's first words after launch to space

Moments after liftoff aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla sent a stirring message from space and said, “Namaskar, my dear countrymen! What a ride! We are back in space after 41 years.” Orbiting Earth at 7.5 km/s, Shukla proudly noted the Tiranga on his shoulder and dedicated the mission to every Indian. Calling it not just a journey to the ISS, but the beginning of India’s Human Space Programme, he urged the nation to join in this new chapter. “Let your chest swell with pride,” he said. “Together, let’s launch India’s Human Space Programme. Jai Hind! Jai Bharat!”