New Delhi, June 25 -- The Indian Air Force (IAF) has lauded the "indomitable spirit" of Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, who is piloting the Axiom 4 Mission that lifted off to the International Space Station from NASA's Kennedy Space Centre in Florida on Wednesday.

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 'deja-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 deja-vu moment for India, 41 years after the mission of Sqn...