Aboard the International Space Station during the Axiom‑4 mission, Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla dialed ISRO Chairman Dr. V. Narayanan and senior officials, expressing heartfelt gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for "providing him this incredible opportunity to represent India" in orbit.

The call was made via ham‑radio and telebridge, part of frequent ISS communications that also includes outreach with students and ISRO engineers . The interaction highlights India’s evolving human spaceflight ambitions - Shukla is the first Indian to stay aboard ISS since Rakesh Sharma, marking a key milestone in the Gaganyaan programme.

The moment underscored both scientific collaboration and national pride. PM Modi had earlier spoken with Shukla from the ISS, noting that although "farthest from India", the astronaut remained "closest to Indians’ hearts". As Shukla continues to conduct experiments on bone health, microalgae, VR-based cognition, and Telemetric Health AI, India watches keenly - this mission is shaping the country’s next frontier in space exploration.