Shubhanshu Shukla\u2019s historic space mission,<\/a> calling it a \u201cpowerful” symbol of India\u2019s ambitions in human spaceflight.<\/p>\nTharoor\u2019s post came in response to Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, as the government has proposed a special discussion in the Lok Sabha on the subject \u2018India\u2019s first astronaut aboard the International Space Station \u2014 Critical role of the space programme for Viksit Bharat by 2047\u2019 \u2014 to mark Shukla\u2019s space sojourn. However, the opposition has decided to skip the special debate as it continues its protests over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list in Bihar.<\/p>\n
Tharoor said Shukla\u2019s mission served as a stepping stone to the nation\u2019s human spaceflight program, Gaganyaan and added that it allowed for the testing of Indian systems and protocols in a real-life space environment.<\/p>\n
Shukla\u00a0became the second Indian to undertake a spaceflight after Rakesh Sharma. He was part of the Axiom-4 private space mission that lifted off from Florida on June 25 and docked at the International Space Station on June 26. He returned to Earth on 15 July.<\/p>\n
Underlining India\u2019s role in global space diplomacy, the Thiruvanthapuram MP said that\u00a0Shukla\u2019s mission demonstrates India\u2019s willingness and capability to engage in multilateral space efforts and opens doors for future joint research and investment.<\/p>\n
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