New Delhi: Indian astronaut and Axiom 4 mission team leader Subhanshu Shukla on Thursday described his experience aboard the International Space Station as “indescribable in words,” calling it a project that belonged to the entire nation.

Speaking to reporters, Shukla said the journey was unlike anything encountered during field training. “No matter how much you have trained, when you sit in the rocket and start the journey, it is a very different feeling. It was so exciting and amazing, I cannot express it to you in words,” he said.

The mission involved a two-week stay aboard the International Space Station, launched on a Falcon 9 rocket and Crew Dragon vehicle from Cape Canaveral, Florida, with recovery off the coast of San Diego. Shukla expressed gratitude to the Government of India, ISRO, researchers, and fellow team members for making the Axiom 4 mission possible.

“I truly felt that it was a mission for the entire country. I would like to thank every citizen of India who made this mission theirs,” he added.

Shukla also noted that the Crew Dragon is one of three vehicles currently capable of carrying humans into space. He mentioned training on the Crew Dragon and said India is prepared for its upcoming Gaganyaan mission, with tests scheduled to begin in December.