Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, pilot of the Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission and the first Indian astronaut to live and work aboard the International Space Station (ISS), returned to Earth on Tuesday after an 18-day stay in orbit. His return aboard SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft marked the successful conclusion of a landmark mission for India’s space program, with leaders hailing it as a significant step toward the Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission.
Shukla and his Axiom-4 crewmates splashed down safely in the Pacific Ocean near San Diego at around 3:01 pm IST. His journey home, following undocking from the ISS on Monday, lasted nearly 22 hours aboard the Dragon capsule. The mission was historic not just for Shukla personally, but also for India, as he became the second Indian in space after Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma’s flight in 1984.
Welcoming Shukla back to Earth, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to social media platform X and 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 the 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 praised the astronaut’s achievement, calling his safe return a proud moment for the entire nation. "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," Singh posted on X.
Known affectionately by his crewmates as “Shux,” Shukla journeyed through Earth’s atmosphere at speeds exceeding 27,000 km/h during re-entry. He was accompanied by mission commander Peggy Whitson (USA), Slawosz Uznanski (Poland), and Tibor Kapu (Hungary). The crew experienced intense heat and gravitational forces before the capsule's parachutes deployed and ensured a smooth ocean landing.
During his 18-day mission, Shukla participated in a wide range of international scientific experiments spanning disciplines such as biology, materials science, and artificial intelligence. One of his key contributions was to the Sprouts Project, which studied plant growth in microgravity—an experiment with promising implications for sustainable space farming and future long-duration missions. Before Shukla’s return, Prime Minister Modi had also interacted with him during the mission, expressing national pride and hope.
"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," the Prime Minister had said. Shukla’s participation in the Ax-4 mission is viewed as a vital stepping stone toward ISRO’s ambitious Gaganyaan project. His experience has provided the Indian Space Research Organisation with crucial real-time exposure to human spaceflight operations. This includes insights into microgravity conditions, crew health monitoring, in-orbit scientific tasks, spacecraft operations, and post-mission recovery processes.
According to experts and ISRO officials, the Ax-4 mission served as a hands-on technical trial that will directly inform mission planning, crew training, and hardware development for Gaganyaan. ISRO reportedly invested around ₹550 crore in supporting Shukla’s flight aboard Axiom-4, recognising it as both a symbolic achievement and a practical training opportunity for India’s indigenous human spaceflight capabilities.
With Shukla’s successful return and the data gathered during the mission, India is now one step closer to launching its own astronauts into space through the Gaganyaan program, further establishing its credentials as a rising space power on the global stage.
Also Read: Welcome home! Axiom-4 with Shubhanshu Shukla splashes down
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