Tears In Her Eyes, A Son Among The Stars: Lucknow Mother Watches Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla Soar
With tears glistening in her eyes and a silent prayer on her lips, Asha Shukla sat still, her gaze locked on a giant screen broadcasting the Axiom-4 spacecraft’s ascent toward the International Space Station (ISS). Among the crew onboard was her son, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, a 39-year-old Indian Air Force pilot, marking a historic moment not just for the family but for the entire country.
Beside her, Shambhu Dayal Shukla, her husband and a proud father, watched with a smile full of pride and anticipation. The couple was attending a special programme organized at City Montessori School (CMS), Kanpur Road branch in Lucknow Shubhanshu’s alma mater where the launch was screened live.
“It is a moment of immense pride, not just for us but for the whole nation,” said Shambhu Dayal, visibly emotional. “Our son is making Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, and India proud. We are overjoyed and pray for the safe and successful completion of his mission.”
Asha Shukla echoed the sentiment, her voice trembling with emotion. “This is a proud moment for our family and everyone associated with us. Posters celebrating his achievement are being put up across the city. The happiness is overwhelming. A boy from Triveni Nagar is now reaching for the stars our blessings are with him.”
She credited her daughter-in-law for being the silent force behind Shubhanshu’s journey. “Without her constant support and sacrifice, this would not have been possible. She played the most important role behind the scenes.”
As the Falcon 9 rocket carrying the SpaceX Crew Dragon lifted off from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, thunderous applause, cheers, and even spontaneous bhangra broke out among students and teachers at CMS, which had turned into a celebratory space hub for the occasion.
Earlier in the day, upholding tradition even across continents, Asha Shukla had offered her son dahi-cheeni (curd and sugar) over a video call—an age-old Indian ritual believed to bring good luck before embarking on a new venture. “We simply told him to focus on the mission and return safely. We will meet again soon,” she said.
As the rocket pierced the skies, Asha's anxiety gave way to a smile of relief. Later, speaking to reporters, she said she was filled with good wishes for her son, now only the second Indian to travel to space after Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma’s pathbreaking mission in 1984. Shubhanshu, however, is the first Indian astronaut to travel to the International Space Station.
The landmark moment has triggered an outpouring of joy across Lucknow, with posters congratulating Group Captain Shukla dotting the cityscape. CMS celebrated his journey with Vyomotsav, a watch party that transformed the school campus into a mini space centre, complete with models, exhibits, and student-led presentations on space exploration.
In the weeks leading up to the mission, Group Captain Shukla had been under quarantine to safeguard his health. Just hours before the launch, he spoke to his family and assured them: “Just wait for me, I am coming.”
Congratulatory messages have been pouring in from across the country. Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak said, “Today, a new chapter is being written in India’s space science journey. I extend my heartfelt congratulations to Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla and his entire family.”
Shukla’s inclusion in the Axiom-4 mission marks a major milestone for India’s space legacy, reigniting national pride and global attention 41 years after Rakesh Sharma’s voyage under the Soviet space programme. This mission not only cements India’s stature in the global space arena but also inspires a new generation of scientists and explorers.
Born in Lucknow in 1985, Shubanshu studied at CMS Aliganj from Montessori to Class 12 before moving on to the National Defence Academy. Commissioned into the Indian Air Force in 2006, he has logged more than 2,000 hours of flight experience on elite combat aircraft. In 2019, he was selected for India’s Gaganyaan human spaceflight programme and later chosen as the pilot for the Axiom-4 mission.
His journey from a local boy in Triveni Nagar to a space pioneer on the global stage is a testament to grit, discipline, and dreams that know no bounds.
news