Lucknow gives a loud cheer to local boy's star-trek
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Lucknow: There was a sense of unity, as everyone present was holding their breath together. The Shukla family sat in the front row of the CMS auditorium, eyes fixed on the screen, hearts full of hope and pride.
As the countdown began, the auditorium fell still. And then, exactly at 12:01pm, as the rocket lifted off from the Kennedy Space Center, the silence broke into a thunderous applause, cheers and tears.
It was a moment etched in history as the Lucknow boy,
Shubhanshu Shukla
, embarked on the space odyssey.
Shubhanshu, an alumnus of City Montessori School, is the first Indian astronaut to travel to the International Space Station.
Among those who watched the local boy's space voyage were the school's teachers and alumni, and many Lucknow residents.
As the rocket ascended into the blue sky, chants of Bharat Mata Ki Jai and Jai Hind echoed through the auditorium.
"It was not just a space launch, but a chapter of history being written in front of us. The atmosphere was absolutely electric and incredibly emotional. As the rocket lifted off, I had goosebumps. It wasn't just a machine flying into space, it was someone from our city reaching for the stars. That moment made us believe that dreams, no matter how distant, are within reach," said Akriti Ahluwalia.
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"It's beyond a space mission. It's a message that with hard work and determination, even the sky is not the limit. Every Indian should be proud of Shubhanshu's feat," said Rohini Agarwal who watched the lift off.
"I have watched space launches on TV before, but this one felt completely different. This was not just about science or exploration, it was about emotion, identity, and pride. Shubhanshu is one of us, a boy from Lucknow who dreamt beyond the skies. When the rocket lifted off, I had tears in my eyes. It felt like the hopes of an entire city were onboard that spacecraft. This moment reminded me that greatness does not come from where you are, but from how far you are willing to go.
" said Raghav Arora.
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