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

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.

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 that marks the return to space for the three nations.

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.

"Greetings from India.. have a fun time guys," Sharma said in a video message.

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

 

 

Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.



Ratlam: In a horrific incident, the family members of a girl allegedly tied a 17-year-old boy to a tree, shaved his head, and then beat him to death after catching him meeting the girl at a temple premises near her house in the Namli area of Ratlam district of western Madhya Pradesh.

The incident occurred in Mesava village, where a boy from a different caste, in a relationship with a minor girl, was called to meet her and was caught by her parents around 11 p.m. on Friday, as reported by The New Indian Express.

The victim's brother stated that he came to know about the incident on Saturday morning. “We are from the neighbouring village. When I arrived, I found my brother lying dead near a house close to the temple. Locals told me he was first tied to a tree, his head was forcibly tonsured, and then he was beaten to death. His head bore deep wounds.” TNIE quoted him as saying.

The boy and girl were former classmates, and their close friendship had allegedly developed into a romantic relationship.

Four individuals have been taken into custody, and further investigation is currently underway.