In a proud moment for India, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the nation’s first astronaut to visit the International Space Station (ISS), has safely returned to Earth after an 18-day space mission onboard the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft.
The spacecraft splashed down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego at 3 PM IST, marking the successful conclusion of the Axiom-4 mission. Alongside Shukla were astronauts Peggy Whitson (USA), Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski (Poland), and Tibor Kapu (Hungary).
PM Modi Welcomes Hero’s Return
Shortly after the splashdown, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to social media platform X, saying:
“I join the nation in welcoming Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla as he returns to Earth from his historic mission to Space. As India’s first astronaut to visit the ISS, he has inspired a billion dreams with his courage and pioneering spirit.”
Mission Highlights
Duration in Space: 18 days
Total Orbits: 310+
Distance Travelled: Approx. 1.3 crore kilometers
Experiments Conducted: 7 critical ISRO-led microgravity experiments including:
Muscle regeneration
Algae and seed cultivation
Radiation effects
Crop resilience
Human physiology studies
This mission is not only a scientific milestone but also a symbol of India’s growing space capabilities and global collaborations.
India’s Leap Into the Space Frontier
At just 39 years old, Shukla, a decorated Indian Air Force officer and test pilot, has etched his name into Indian space history. His journey aboard the ISS stands as a testament to India’s ambition to become a major spacefaring nation.
