India’s Star Returns: Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla Makes History with ISS Mission

New Delhi/Bengaluru I July 15 :

Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the Indian Air Force pilot who etched his name in history as the first Indian to visit the International Space Station (ISS), has returned to Earth, completing a pioneering 18-day space mission that has ignited the imagination of a nation.

The pilot touched down in the Pacific Ocean on July 15, along with his international crewmates, concluding a landmark mission under the Axiom-4 program—a global collaboration backed by ISRO, NASA, and private space partners. His voyage marks the first time an Indian has been aboard the ISS and only the second time an Indian has travelled to space, following Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma’s milestone mission in 1984.

Welcoming the astronaut’s return, Prime Minister Narendra Modi issued a heartfelt tribute:

“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.”

The Prime Minister also underlined the significance of the mission in India’s evolving space ambitions, calling it “another milestone towards our Human Space Flight Mission – Gaganyaan”.

Journey of Science, Sacrifice and Spirit

Launched on June 25 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Florida’s Kennedy Space Center, the Axiom-4 mission saw Shukla and his crew dock with the ISS on June 26. Over the next 18 days, he conducted a series of microgravity experiments designed by Indian scientists, including studies on seed germination (moong and methi), stem cell behavior, and algae-based life support systems.

Shukla also engaged in cognitive performance trials, performed a zero-gravity water demonstration, and interacted live with students, scientists, and Prime Minister Modi, making space more accessible and inspiring to the Indian public than ever before.

A key feature of this mission was its outreach—bridging the gap between orbit and Earth. Through amateur radio links and live video interactions, Shukla spoke to schoolchildren and researchers, kindling a fresh wave of curiosity in India’s next generation of scientists and explorers.

Honouring Collaboration and Courage

The mission was a testament to international cooperation, featuring astronauts from India, the United States, Poland, and Hungary. Commander Peggy Whitson of the U.S. led the team, joined by specialists Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski and Tibor Kapu alongside Shukla.

After completing all scheduled experiments and handing over scientific data to mission control teams, the Dragon Grace capsule undocked on July 14. The crew splashed down safely the following day off the California coast.

A day before departure, a farewell ceremony was held aboard the ISS with the Expedition 73 crew. In a moving address, Shukla expressed deep gratitude to ISRO, the Indian government, and the global astronautical community for enabling the mission.

A New Orbit for Indian Space Dreams

More than just a scientific endeavor, Shukla’s mission represents the coming-of-age of India’s human spaceflight program. His successful journey has added crucial data and international experience to India's preparations for Gaganyaan, the country’s first indigenous manned mission slated for the near future.

His flight—high on science, symbolism, and national sentiment—has positioned India among the few nations to have astronauts aboard the ISS. It has also underscored the importance of space as a domain of global leadership, innovation, and inspiration.

As he returns home not just as a pilot but as a national icon, Shubhanshu Shukla has done more than orbit the Earth—he’s helped a billion citizens look up to the sky with purpose and possibility.

MISSION HIGHLIGHTS:

GROUP CAPTAIN SHUBHANSHU SHUKLA'S HISTORIC SPACE ODYSSEY

Mission Name: Axiom-4 (Commercial ISS Mission)

Role: First Indian astronaut to visit the International Space Station

Launch Site: Kennedy Space Center, Florida

Launch Date: 25 June 2025

Docking with ISS: 26 June 2025

Duration in Space: 18 days

Splashdown: 15 July 2025, Pacific Ocean, off California coast

Experiments Conducted:

Moong and methi seed germination in microgravity

Stem cell behavior under zero-G

Microalgae cultivation

Water bubble demo in zero gravity

Cognitive load and screen-based response time tests