Delivering a message in Hindi to his fellow countrymen, Shubhanshu Shukla expressed deep gratitude, saying it was the love and blessings of the Indian people that had brought him safely to the International Space Station.

India is brimming with pride after Shubhanshu Shukla became the first astronaut from the country to blast off to the International Space Station (ISS) Wednesday, in a boost to the South Asian giant’s bid to become a space power.

In today's episode of India Ascends, Air Force pilot Shubhanshu Shukla wrote a historic new chapter in the country's space exploration story Thursday after becoming the first Indian to float into the International Space Station.