New Delhi: Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, who recently made history as the second Indian to travel to space, is scheduled to return to India on Sunday, August 17. This will be his first visit home following the successful completion of the Axiom-4 mission to the International Space Station (ISS).
Shukla, who spent 20 days aboard the ISS, is expected to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and share insights from his mission that could prove crucial for India’s ambitious human spaceflight programme. His arrival was earlier confirmed by PM Modi during his Independence Day address, where the Prime Minister lauded India’s growing contributions to global space exploration.
The astronaut himself shared his emotions through an Instagram post, uploading a photograph while boarding his flight to India. “I have mixed emotions as I return — leaving behind colleagues who became family over the past year, while eagerly looking forward to reuniting with my loved ones and the people of India,” he wrote. Reflecting on his commander Peggy Whitson’s words, he added, “The only constant in spaceflight is change. I believe the same holds true for life.”
A Historic Journey
Shukla’s journey was part of Axiom Mission 4, a private collaboration between NASA, SpaceX, Axiom Space, and ISRO. He was launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Kennedy Space Center on June 25, with the Dragon spacecraft docking at the ISS a day later.
During the mission, Shukla and his three crewmates conducted advanced experiments in microgravity, life sciences, and materials research. The team undocked on July 14, with the Dragon capsule safely splashing down on July 15 (IST).
The Indian government reportedly invested around ₹548 crore for Shukla’s participation — an investment widely viewed as a stepping stone toward the Gaganyaan mission, India’s first fully indigenous crewed spaceflight slated for 2027. His experiments aboard the ISS are expected to significantly contribute to India’s preparations.
India’s Expanding Space Ambitions
Shukla’s mission comes at a time when India’s space sector is witnessing rapid growth. During his Independence Day speech, PM Modi not only hailed Shukla’s achievement but also announced plans to establish an indigenous space station. The Prime Minister also highlighted that nearly 300 Indian startups are now dedicated to the space industry, underscoring the sector’s transformative potential.
Shukla’s return is anticipated to be an emotional homecoming, symbolizing both personal triumph and India’s growing footprint in global space exploration.
