Shukla’s Homecoming: A Triumph for India’s Space Ambitions

New Delhi – Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, India’s pioneering astronaut, landed at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport early Sunday, greeted with enthusiasm after his historic mission to the International Space Station (ISS). The Indian Air Force officer, who spent 18 days aboard the ISS as part of NASA’s Axiom-4 mission, was welcomed by Union Minister Jitendra Singh, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, and ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan. Accompanying him was Group Captain Prashanth Balakrishnan Nair, his backup for the mission and a fellow astronaut designated for India’s Gaganyaan program.

Shukla, who departed for the U.S. a year ago to train for the Axiom-4 mission, is set to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and visit his hometown, Lucknow, in the coming days. He is also expected to participate in National Space Day celebrations on August 22–23. The mission, launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on June 25, saw Shukla and three other astronauts Peggy Whitson (U.S.), Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski (Poland), and Tibor Kapu (Hungary) conduct over 60 experiments during their 18-day stay.

In a heartfelt Instagram post shared before his return, Shukla expressed mixed emotions about leaving his mission team in the U.S. while eagerly anticipating reuniting with loved ones in India. Quoting his commander, Peggy Whitson, he noted, “The only constant in spaceflight is change,” a sentiment he tied to life’s broader journey, referencing a line from the Bollywood film Swades: “Yun hi chala chal rahi jeevan gaadi hai samay pahiya.”

Shukla’s mission marks a significant milestone for India’s space program, with ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan highlighting its value for the upcoming Gaganyaan mission. On August 15, Prime Minister Modi acknowledged Shukla’s achievement during Independence Day celebrations at the Red Fort, noting India’s progress toward establishing its own space station.