New Delhi, June 28 -- Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the first Indian astronaut to visit the International Space Station (ISS), expressed strong optimism about India's human spaceflight programme, Gaganyaan, during an interaction with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday.

"I think this dream will be fulfilled very soon," Group Captain Shukla said, referring to the Gaganyaan mission, adding that the experiences he is gaining aboard the ISS through the Axiom 4 mission will play a valuable role in advancing India's future space endeavours.

"The lessons that I have learnt during my journey and my experiences, I have been absorbing them like a sponge, and I am sure that all these things will prove to be very valuable and very important...