PM Modi welcomes Shubhanshu Shukla’s return from 18-day stay in space station
PM Modi welcomes Shubhanshu Shukla’s return from 18-day stay in space station
PM Modi welcomed
Isro astronaut, Shubhanshu Shukla following his return from an 18-day stay at the Space Station, along with his Axiom-4 crew. He splashed down near San Diego at approximately 3:01 pm IST, concluding the historic Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission.
Further PM Modi hailed Shukla’s mission as milestone for India’s Gaganyaan mission
As the Axiom-4 mission pilot, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, splashed down onboard SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft in the Pacific Ocean and returned from the International Space Station on Tuesday adding that the historic sojourn will prove a milestone towards India’s Gaganyaan Mission.
Taking to his X handle PMModi wrote
“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 have visited International Space Station, he has inspired a billion dreams through his dedication, courage and pioneering spirit. It marks another milestone towards our own Human Space Flight Mission – Gaganyaan.”
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also joined PM Modi in congratulating and welcoming Shubhanshu Shukla back to Earth, calling it a proud moment for all Indians.
“Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla’s successful return from the historic Axiom-4 mission is a proud moment for every Indian. He has not just touched space, he has lifted India’s aspirations to new heights. His journey to the International Space Station and back is not just a personal milestone, it is a proud stride for India’s growing space ambitions. Wishing him great success in his future endeavours,” he posted on X.
Shukla, passionately acknowledged as Shux by his crewmates, undocked from the Space Station on Monday afternoon (India time) and landed home after completion of a 22-hour journey aboard the Dragon spacecraft. He has emerged as the second Indian in space after Rakesh Sharma first accomplished the feat with a Soviet mission in 1984.
As Dragon streaked through Earth’s atmosphere at over 27,000 km/h, Shukla and his crewmates — Commander Peggy Whitson (USA), Slawosz Uznanski (Poland), and Tibor Kapu (Hungary) — experienced extreme heat and g-forces before the successful deployment of parachutes led to a gentle ocean landing.
While on the mission, Shux took part in multiple global science experiments spanning fields like biology, materials science, and artificial intelligence. His involvement in the Sprouts Project — studying plant growth in microgravity — holds promise for sustainable space farming.
Earlier, after Shubhanshu Shukla kicked off his space mission, PM Modi spoke to him, saying his journey marked a new and hopeful beginning, and an auspicious beginning for the youth of our nation.
Adding that the feelings of 140 crore Indians are connected with you. I stand here representing the excitement, pride, and hopes of every Indian. As you carry our national flag into outer space, I extend my heartfelt congratulations and wish you the very best for your mission.
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Shux participation in the Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission provided the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) with invaluable real-world experience in human spaceflight operations experience that will directly help and guide all aspects of Gaganyaan’s planning and execution.
Experts and Isro officials believe that the Indian astronaut’s successful 18-day stay in orbit, his performance during critical mission phases, and his participation in advanced scientific experiments have helped Indian teams gain a practical understanding of microgravity, spacecraft operations, crew health monitoring, and post-mission rehabilitation.
Isro invested approximately Rs 550 crore in supporting Shukla’s Ax-4 flight, viewing it as both a technical trial and a training ground for Gaganyaan’s future crew.
News Edit KV Raman
