PM Modi Welcomes Home India’s Second Space Traveler: Shubhanshu Gifts Indian Flag He Carried To ISS and Share Mission Memories

New Delhi – Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosted Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla at his official residence this evening, marking a warm homecoming celebration for India’s second astronaut to venture into space, just one day after his return from a groundbreaking mission to the International Space Station.

During their meeting at the Prime Minister’s Delhi residence, Shukla presented Modi with the official Axiom-4 mission patch and shared captivating photographs of Earth captured during his orbital journey. The astronaut’s gesture symbolized not just personal achievement but a milestone moment for India’s space exploration ambitions.

Historic 18-Day Space Mission

Group Captain Shukla participated in the Axiom-4 private space expedition, which commenced with a launch from Florida on June 25, successfully reaching and docking with the ISS the following day. The mission concluded with his safe return to Earth on July 15, capping an intensive 18-day stay aboard the orbiting laboratory.

Throughout the mission, Shukla collaborated with an international crew comprising American astronaut Peggy Whitson, Poland’s Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski, and Hungary’s Tibor Kapu. Together, the team executed more than 60 scientific experiments and participated in 20 educational outreach activities, contributing valuable research data and inspiring global audiences.

Emotional Homecoming Reflections

Prior to his return journey, Shukla shared his mixed emotions about leaving the space station through a heartfelt Instagram post. “As I sit on the plane to come back to India, I have a mix of emotions running through my heart. I feel sad leaving a fantastic group of people behind who were my friends and family for the past one year during this mission. I am also excited about meeting all my friends, family and everyone in the country for the first time post mission. I guess this is what life is — everything all at once,” he wrote.

The astronaut expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support received throughout his mission and eagerness to share his extraordinary experiences with fellow Indians. “Having received incredible love and support from everyone during and after the mission, I can’t wait to come back to India to share my experiences with all of you. Goodbyes are hard, but we need to keep moving in life. As my commander Peggy Whitson fondly says, ‘the only constant in spaceflight is change’. I believe that applies to life as well,” he reflected.

In a touching cultural reference, Shukla recalled listening to a song from the Bollywood film ‘Swades’ before embarking on his mission, concluding his post with the meaningful lyric: “I guess at the end of the day – ‘Yun hi chala chal rahi – jeevan gaadi hai samay pahiya’.”