Family of Shubhanshu Shukla celebrates as Axiom-4 Mission lifts off to ISS | Watch

Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla on Wednesday scripted history by embarking on a space odyssey along with three others to the International Space Station (ISS) as part of a commercial mission by Axiom Space.

The much-delayed Axiom-4 mission blasted off from the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida at 12:01 pm IST towards the ISS amid cheers from watch parties organised across the world, including at Shukla's City Montessori School in Lucknow, where his parents witnessed the historic launch.

Also Read: NASA's Axiom-4 mission takes off successfully: Shubhanshu Shukla makes history for India | Watch video

The Lucknow-born Shukla, former NASA astronaut Mission Commander Peggy Whitson, Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski of Poland, and Tibor Kapu of Hungary are part of the Axiom-4 mission, which marks the return to space for the three nations.

Watch Axiom-4 mission launch video here

Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh, Australian High Commissioner to India Philip Green, Frances Adamson, Governor of South Australia and others share sweets to celebrate the launch of Axiom- 4 mission.

Here's what Shubhanshu Shukla said

As reported by ANI, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla said, “Namaskar, my dear countrymen! What a ride! We are back in the space once again after 41 years. It's an amazing ride. We are revolving around the Earth at a speed of 7.5 kilometres per second. The Tiranga embossed on my shoulders tells me that I am with all of you. This journey of mine is not a beginning to the International Space Station (ISS) but to India's Human Space Programme. I want all of you to be part of this journey. Your chest, too, should swell with pride...Together, let's initiate India's Human Space Programme. Jai Hind! Jai Bharat!”

Also Read: Shubhanshu Shukla’s epic first message after reaching space: 'Mere kandhe par jo tiranga hai...'

Shukla became the first astronaut to travel to the International Space Station, a journey that comes 41 years after Rakesh Sharma’s eight days in orbit as part of the then Soviet Union's Salyut-7 space station in 1984.

The targeted docking time is approximately 4.30 pm IST on Thursday, June 26, NASA said in a statement.

(This is a developing story)