Key Points

Taking to its social media platform X, the IAF wrote, "From conquering the skies to touching the stars -- a journey powered by the indomitable spirit of the IAF Air Warrior."

The Air Force remembered Squadron Leader Rakesh Sharma's space odyssey and called it a 'dèja-vu moment for India'.

"Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla sets forth on a landmark Space Mission, carrying the pride of the nation beyond Earth. This is a dèja-vu moment for India, 41 years after the mission of Sqn Ldr Rakesh Sharma, who first carried our Tricolour beyond Earth," the post read.

"Being more than a mission -- it is reaffirmation of India's ever-expanding horizon," IAF wrote.

The Axiom Mission 4 or Ax-4, launched aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Centre in Florida at 2:31 am Eastern Time (12 Noon IST).

Previously, Indian Air Force Officer Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma flew aboard Soyuz T-11 on April 3, 1984, as part of the Soviet Interkosmos programme. Sharma spent seven days in space on board the Salyut 7 space station.

Axiom-4 is the fourth private astronaut mission to the International Space Station. The crew is travelling to the orbiting laboratory on a new SpaceX Dragon spacecraft. The targeted docking time is approximately 7 am Eastern Time (4 pm IST) on Thursday, June 26.

Once docked, the astronauts plan to spend up to 14 days aboard the orbiting laboratory, conducting a mission comprised of science, outreach, and commercial activities. Peggy Whitson, former NASA astronaut and director of human spaceflight at Axiom Space, is in command of the mission along with specialists Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski of Poland and Tibor Kapu of Hungary.

- ANI