'It has been a wonderful ride' 2025: A Shubhanshu Shukla Odyssey
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The SpaceX spacecraft carrying Indian Air Force Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla and three others docked with the International Space Station (ISS) on Thursday.The SpaceX Dragon capsule Grace achieved soft capture at 4:01 pm India time over the North Atlantic Ocean, American space agency NASA said. The docking sequence was completed by 4:15 pm.A live video link from the space agency showed the spacecraft approaching the space station. "It is a privilege to be among the few who have had the chance to see the Earth from such a vantage point. It's been a wonderful ride," said Shukla, who received astronaut pin number 634 at the ISS from mission commander Peggy Whitson.Shukla and the other astronauts of the private Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission were greeted with handshakes and hugs by the seven Expedition 73 crewmates. Wearing a wide grin, the 39-year-old IAF pilot said whatever expectations he had of visiting space were "surpassed by the view itself". "I am confident the next 14 days will be amazing, advancing science, research, and working with the crew," Shukla radioed from the ISS.Shukla is the second Indian to travel to space. The first, Rakesh Sharma, spent seven days, 21 hours and 40 minutes on board the Salyut 7 space station 41 years ago in 1984.
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