New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi was among others to welcome back Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla back to Earth on Tuesday. Shukla is India’s second astronaut and the country’s first to spend time at the International Space Station (ISS).
The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft carrying the Axiom-4 mission crew, piloted by Shukla – now lovingly called ‘Shux’ by millions of his countrymen – splashed down safely around 3.00 pm on Tuesday, much to everyone’s relief. Shukla and the three other crew members spent 18 days at ISS, carrying out various experiments, including some designed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), which was a part of the mission.
In his post, Prime Minister Modi said that Shukla has “inspired a billion dreams through his dedication, courage and pioneering spirit” by becoming India’s first astronaut to have visited the ISS.
“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.” Modi posted.
“It marks another milestone towards our own Human Space Flight Mission – Gaganyaan,” he added.
Group Captain Shukla’s mother Asha Shukla had said on Monday that the family is waiting to give him a grand welcome home.
The astronauts will spend the next seven days at a special facility in the US for mandatory rehabilitation, before flying back to India to a hero’s welcome. According to sources, the Government is already planning an appropriate way to welcome him back to India.