NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Shubhanshu Shukla, the first Indian to reach the International Space Station. Narendra Modi spoke to Shubhanshu live on Saturday evening. The conversation between the two was streamed live on the Prime Minister's official social media platforms.

'Not my journey alone but also our country's, I feel proud to represent India, Shubhanshu Shukla said. The Prime Minister asked Shubhanshu about the scientific missions planned to be carried out at the space station. 'Today, you are away from our motherland, but you are the closest to the hearts of Indians,' the Prime Minister said.

Shukla also answered the Prime Minister's question about what he has seen from space so far. "A short while ago, when I was looking out of the window, we were flying over Hawaii. We see sunrise and sunset 16 times a day from orbit...Our nation is moving forward at a very great pace..." Shubhanshu said. Modi said that Subhanshu's experiences will be an asset to the country in everything from Gaganyaan to India's own space station and Chandrayaan.