New Delhi: Astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is on his way back to India after returning from the International Space Station (ISS). On his return, he is likely to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and then spend some time with his family, before resuming training for the Gaganyaan Mission.
Grp Capt Shukla, or Shux – as he is now known to most Indians – was part of the Ax-4 mission, marking a historic milestone as the first Indian aboard the International Space Station.
He spent nearly a year collaborating with an international crew for the Ax-4 mission and shared an emotional message as he boarded his flight home.
“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,” Shukla posted on Instagram.
Shukla, during his stay at the ISS, engaged in critical research experiments, outreach initiatives, and operational work supporting next-generation space objectives. The Ax-4 mission, launched under Axiom Space’s commercial program, saw collaboration from NASA and Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
While his journey to space was not only a personal achievement but a moment of pride for India, highlighting the country’s growing role in global space exploration.
“Having received incredible love and support from everyone during and after the mission, I can’t wait to come back to India to share my experiences with all of you. Goodbyes are hard but we need to keep moving in life. As my commander Peggy Whitson fondly says, ‘the only constant in spaceflight is change’. I believe that applies to life as well,” he added.
The astronaut will have a lot to share with Indian space scientists. ISRO plans to launch Gaganyaan – India’s first manned mission to space – in 2027. There will be three unmanned missions before that. One of these will carry a robot.
Grp Capt will also discuss the results of the experiments he was assigned to carry out by ISRO during his stay at ISS.