Indian Air Force Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla returned to India on Sunday after successfully completing th historic AX-4 mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS), marking India’s first human presence in space in 41 years. He arrived in New Delhi in the early hours of Sunday, following an 18-day stay on the ISS. 

The mission was part of Axiom Space’s AX-4 programme, which was launched on June 25 aboard SpaceX’s Falcon rocket. He was welcomed by Union Minister of State for Science & Technology, Dr. Jitendra Singh, and Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta.

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On Saturday, before boarding his flight to New Delhi, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla shared his reflections on X (formerly Twitter), expressing mixed emotions following the successful completion of his space mission.

 “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.

He added, “Goodbyes are hard but we need to keep moving in life. As my commander @astro_peggy fondly says, ‘the only constant in spaceflight is change’. I believe that applies to life as well. I guess at the end of the day- ‘Yun hi chala chal rahi- jeevan gaadi hai samay pahiya’.”

About AX-4 Mission

The mission, conducted in collaboration with NASA and SpaceX, was designed to offer practical experience crucial for India’s upcoming Gaganyaan human spaceflight programme.

According to ISRO, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla performed multiple scientific experiments aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and the Space Shuttle, with findings expected to provide direct support to the Gaganyaan mission.

The Gaganyaan programme is set to begin with an unmanned flight later this year, followed by two additional unmanned missions. Eventually, an Indian astronaut is expected to spend 2 to 7 days in space aboard the Gaganyaan spacecraft.

Shukla’s participation in the AX-4 mission is also seen as a symbol of deepening India-US space cooperation. During Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Washington, ISRO and NASA signed an agreement enabling an Indian astronaut’s participation in a US-led ISS mission.

Meanwhile, the Lok Sabha is scheduled to hold a special discussion on Monday titled “India’s First Astronaut Aboard the ISS, Critical Role of Space Programme for Viksit Bharat by 2047.” The debate will highlight India’s space achievements and the significance of Shukla’s milestone mission.

Who Is Shubhanshu Shukla?

Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla served as the pilot on the Axiom-4 mission, which launched from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on June 25 and docked with the International Space Station (ISS) on June 26. Prior to the mission, he spent a year in the United States, undergoing rigorous training at NASA, Axiom Space, and SpaceX facilities.

Shukla returns with critical insights and hands-on experience that will prove invaluable for India’s human spaceflight programme, beginning with Gaganyaan, which is expected to launch in 2027. His mission marks a key step toward India’s broader space goals, including the establishment of a Bharatiya Antariksh Station (Indian Space Station) by 2035, and a crewed lunar mission by 2040.

Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla To Meet PM Modi

Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is expected to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday following his return from the International Space Station. During his Independence Day address from the Red Fort, PM Modi had acknowledged Shukla’s milestone achievement, saying, “Our Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla has returned from the space station. In the coming days, he is returning to India.”

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The Prime Minister also highlighted India’s ambitious plans in space exploration, including the development of its own space station in the near future.