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.
New Delhi (PTI): AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj on Monday claimed that he was booked by police for taking out a candle march in support of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk.
The Delhi Aam Aadmi Party president said he was booked even though the case against Wangchuk had ended.
"This new case has been registered for a candle march is registered for a candle light March at Jantar Mantar on the day Wangchuk was arrested," he said, terming it a "fake" case.
The Delhi Police was yet to respond to the allegation.
Earlier in the day, the Supreme Court disposed of a plea by Wangchuk's wife against the detention of the activist under the National Security Act (NSA).
A bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and PB Varale noted that the Centre had revoked its order of Wangchuk's detention on March 14, and there was nothing left in the matter.
Wangchuk was detained on September 26 last year, two days after the protests over demands for statehood for Ladakh and its inclusion under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution rocked Leh.
More than 45 people, including 22 policemen, were injured in the protests.
