New Delhi, July 16 . The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi today hailed the successful completion of Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla’s 18-day mission aboard the International Space Station (I.), describing his return as the dawn of a “new chapter” in India’s space journey.
It passed a resolution commending Shukla’s pioneering achievement and asserting that the mission symbolized India’s infinite aspirations and emerging global leadership in space exploration.
“The Cabinet joins the nation in celebrating the safe return of Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla to Earth after his historic 18-day mission aboard the I.,” said Information & Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, while reading out the resolution at a press conference here.
The resolution further credited Prime Minister Modi for his strategic foresight in steering India’s space ambitions and emphasized his unwavering belief in India’s potential to become a dominant force among spacefaring nations.
Shukla’s mission, which concluded on July 15 has been described as a source of pride, glory, and joy for the entire nation. It has been hailed as a crucial step towards India’s own human spaceflight aspirations, including the ambitious Gaganyaan mission and the establishment of the Bharatiya Antariksha Station.
“This successful mission elevates India’s global standing in space exploration and reinforces the nation’s resolve to be at the forefront of human space exploration,” the Cabinet resolution noted.
The Cabinet also highlighted other recent milestones, including the historic Chandrayaan-3 landing near the South Pole of the Moon on August 23, 2023. The government’s sustained reforms in the space sector, it was noted, have unleashed unprecedented growth in India’s space economy.
The resolution further mentioned the emergence of nearly 300 new start-ups in the space sector, leading to massive job creation and fostering a thriving ecosystem of innovation, entrepreneurship, and technology.
“The Cabinet reaffirms its commitment to the Prime Minister’s vision of building a Viksit Bharat — a Developed India — by 2047, with this space mission serving as a catalyst for national progress,” the resolution noted.
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