Darjeeling MP Raju Bista hails Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla’s historic ISS mission
Raju Bista called the mission a "historic moment" and joined people from across India in celebrating the success.
LOCAL
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla has created history by becoming the first Indian to visit the International Space Station (ISS), drawing widespread appreciation from across the nation. Among the many who congratulated him was Darjeeling MP and BJP National Spokesperson Raju Bista, who applauded the astronaut and his fellow crew members of Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4).
The Axiom Mission 4, which docked with the International Space Station (ISS) on June 26, 2025, lasted 18 days and carried out approximately 60 microgravity experiments. Seven of these were from India’s premier space agency, ISRO. The mission marked a significant milestone as it advanced the objectives of the Gaganyaan program — India’s upcoming human spaceflight initiative — and contributed to broader global space research.
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla made history during this mission by becoming the first Indian astronaut to visit the ISS. His achievement also makes him the second Indian to travel into space, following in the footsteps of Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma, who flew aboard a Soviet mission in 1984.
Raju Bista called the mission a "historic moment" and joined people from across India in celebrating the success. “I join the people from Darjeeling hills, Terai and Dooars and across India in congratulating Group Captain and Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla and the crew aboard Axiom Mission 4,” Bista said in a press statement.
The international crew also included veteran American astronaut and mission commander Peggy Whitson, Polish astronaut Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski, and Hungarian astronaut Tibor Kapu. This team represented a strong collaboration between ISRO, NASA, SpaceX, and other global space agencies, highlighting the spirit of international cooperation in space science and exploration.