Latest news with #Vyomotsav
The Hindu
6 hours ago
- Science
- The Hindu
Lucknow cheers city boy; proud moment for all, say parents
Amid cheers and shrieks of joy, the crowd at the City Montessori School in Lucknow, the alma mater of Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, watched him lift off into space from the Kennedy Space Centre (KSC) in Florida on Wednesday (June 25, 2025). As the rocket carrying the Lucknow boy and three others pierced through the Florida skies, Group Captain Shukla became only the second Indian astronaut to undertake a space flight, 41 years after another space icon, Rakesh Sharma. At the school on Kanpur Road, the students were joined by the parents of the experienced Indian Air Force test pilot in watching the live broadcast of the Axiom-4 mission. Group Captain Shukla's parents became emotional as the mission lifted off sucessfully. 'It is a proud moment for all of us. What more should I say at this moment. My blessings are always there with my son,' his father Shambhu Shukla told the media. 'I have nothing more to say. I am delighted. Everyone is happy and jubilant, my son made all of us proud,' his mother Asha Shukla added. The event was part of the school's 'Vyomotsav', an 'immersive watch-party' that transformed the campus into a vibrant 'mini-space centre'. People across Lucknow too celebrated the local boy's space journey, with people dancing and distributing sweets at the busy Hazratganj intersection. Posters were also put up congratulating him. Congratulating the Lucknow-born astronaut, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath described the space mission as a wonderful example of India's scientific progress and global cooperation. 'This is a proud moment for India. Hearty congratulations and best wishes to Axiom Mission 4's Mission Pilot Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla on this historic achievement. Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visionary leadership, India's participation in this international space mission shows our commitment to scientific progress and global cooperation. Best wishes for the upcoming mission. Jai Hind,' wrote the CM, on X.
Hindustan Times
10 hours ago
- Science
- Hindustan Times
SRK's hit song Yun Hi Chala Chal Rahi from Swades on Shubhanshu Shukla on space lift-off playlist
"We are very proud and emotional," says Shambhu Dayal Shukla, father of Astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla as his son became the second Indian to journey into space. Shubhanshu Shukla with other astronauts on Crew Dragon. (Inset) The #Ax4 crew share their launch-day playlist.(X/ISROSpaceflight & X/Axiom_Space) Shukla launched aboard the SpaceX Falcon 9 spacecraft with the Crew Dragon capsule as part of the Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4), lifting off from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Adding a personal touch to his historic flight, the Indian Air Force test pilot's playlist during lift-off featured the beloved film song Yun Hi Chala Chal Rahi from the movie Swades, sung by Udit Narayan, Hariharan, and Kailash Kher, with lyrics by Javed Akhtar and music by AR Rahman. SpaceX shared this unique detail on X, alongside the playlists of other crew members: Mission Commander Peggy Whitson's Thunder by Imagine Dragons, Sławosz Uznański's Supermoce, and Tibor Kapu's Búvóhely. Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla's parents at City Montessori School, Lucknow(Photo: HT) Back in his hometown, City Montessori School in Lucknow became the focal point of local celebrations. Shukla's parents, Shambhu Dayal Shukla and Asha Shukla, alongside his sisters Nidhi and Suchi Shukla, joined a large gathering of students for a live telecast of the launch. The school hosted 'Vyomotsav', a watch-party that transformed the campus into a vibrant 'mini space centre', paying tribute to its illustrious alumnus. Shukla has done his schooling till Class XII from its Aliganj branch. Prof Geeta Gandhi Kingdon, school's president and manager said, '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'.' School's founder-director Bharti Gandhi was also present on the occasion. Vyomotsav underway at City Montessori School(Photo: HT) Cheers erupted as the rocket ascended, followed by dancing and heartfelt congratulations, marking a proud moment for the city. The evening featured a live AXIOM mission broadcast, a replica of the ISS Cupola module, a 'Defy Gravity' photo booth, telescope viewings, and a simulated Mission Control Centre—making it part celebration, part science festival.
NDTV
12 hours ago
- Science
- NDTV
Bhangra, Tears And Chants In Lucknow As Shubhanshu Shukla Heads To Space
Lucknow: Chants of "Hip Hip Hurray", spontaneous bhangra and quiet tears. It was a morning to remember at the City Montessori School as Lucknow boy Shubhanshu Shukla lifted off into space -- and history -- on board the SpaceX Falcon 9-rocket from the Kennedy Space Centre (KSC) in Florida on Wednesday. As the rocket pierced through Florida skies, Group Captain Shukla became only the second Indian history to travel to space after Rakesh Shukla in 1984 and the first Indian astronaut to travel to the International Space Station. "It's a great moment not just for us but for our country. What can we say at this moment, I am struggling for words now. My blessings are always there with my son," his father Shambhu Shukla told PTI. "I have nothing more to say at this moment. I am delighted," Shubhanshu's mother Asha Shukla said. "I know he will be successful. Though I am eagerly looking forward for him to return after a successful mission, I also know that even after returning back on earth, it will take a while before he actually gets to back amongst us," she told PTI. The proud parents were there with many others at CMS Kanpur Road's World Unity Convention Centre (WUCC) auditorium to witness the launch live. Among those gathered were his his sisters, senior defence personnel, CMS faculty, the city's who's who and wide-eyed students. There was thunderous applause, cheers and impromptu bhangra as the rocket lifted off. Posters of Shubhanshu congratulating him on his historic space voyage have come up all over the state capital. And his alma mater CMS hosted Vyomotsav, an immersive watch-party that transformed the campus into a vibrant "mini space centre", paying tribute to its illustrious alumnus. The celebrations are set to continue through the day. CMS also arranged a live AXIOM mission broadcast, a replica of the ISS Cupola module, a "Defy Gravity" photo booth, telescope viewings, and a simulated Mission Control Centre. Born in Lucknow in 1985 and educated from Montessori through Class 12 at CMS Aliganj, Shukla went on to graduate from the National Defence Academy and was commissioned into the Indian Air Force in 2006. With over 2,000 hours of flight experience on elite combat aircraft, he was selected in 2019 for India's Gaganyaan human spaceflight programme and later chosen as the pilot for Ax-4. Sharing the capsule with NASA senior Dr. Peggy Whitson (mission commander) and astronauts from Hungary and Poland, the 39-year-old's 14-day mission as part of a commercial mission by Axiom Space will contribute to microgravity research in areas including human physiology, nutrition, and seed germination in space. CMS founder-director Bharti Gandhi said, "Many CMS students have brought us laurels, but Shubhanshu's journey to space will forever shine as a beacon of possibility for every Indian child." Added the school president and manager Geeta Gandhi Kingdon, "We are all overjoyed. Though their rocket is yet to reach the space, we are already over the moon." "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'."
