2 weeks ago
Last Updated:June 25, 2025, 11:16 IST
Group Captain Shukla listened to 'Vande Mataram' song from Hrithik Roshan starrer 2024 film 'Fighter' as he was headed to the launch pad.
Shubhanshu Shukla, an accomplished fighter pilot with over 2,000 hours of flying experience, will now become the second Indian to be part of an operational spaceflight. (X)
Indian Air Force’s (IAF) Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, one of the astronauts selected under India’s Gaganyaan program, is set to launch into space today after several delays due to bad weather and technical glitches.
As part of the Axiom-4 mission to the Space Station (ISS), Shukla along with three other astronauts, will lift-off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre in Florida onboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket.
Which Song He Listened?
As per the reports, there is an old tradition at NASA that when astronauts drive out to the launch pad for their missions, they get to listen to their favorite music as they bid adieu to their families.
As per the report by NDTV, Group Captain Shukla listened to ‘Vande Mataram’ song from Hrithik Roshan starrer film ‘Fighter’ as he was headed to the launch pad 39-A at the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida.
The Bollywood song loosely translates as “India is not a dream but a celebration. Victory is the habit in every vein of Indians. Such is our prowess that even the enemy salutes us".
As per the reports, astronauts often play music before launch to help them relax and focus. Music can be a powerful tool to manage stress, especially in the high-pressure environment of space travel.
Directed by Siddharth Anand, ‘Fighter’ was released in 2024 starring Hrithik Roshan, Anil Kapoor and Deepika Padukone.
The song ‘Vande Mataram’ has been sung by Vishal Dadlani and others with original lyrics by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee and remix lyrics by Kumaar.
Axiom-4 Mission
The Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission is the fourth private astronaut expedition to the Space Station. It launches from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, propelled by a Falcon 9 rocket.
The mission is led by former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, now with Axiom Space, serving as commander. The international crew includes Slawosz Uznanski from Poland (European Space Agency) and Tibor Kapu from Hungary, both serving as mission specialists. Group Captain Shukla joins them as the mission’s pilot — a role of high responsibility and precision.
Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben...
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla Listened To This Hrithik Roshan Song Before Space Trip
