Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla has successfully returned to Earth after completing a landmark mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS), becoming the first Indian astronaut to visit the ISS. His safe landing marks a proud moment for India’s space exploration efforts.
Shukla was part of the four-member international crew of the Axiom-4 mission, launched aboard SpaceX’s Dragon capsule Grace. After spending over two weeks in space and orbiting Earth more than 310 times, the capsule re-entered Earth’s atmosphere and splashed down safely in the Pacific Ocean near California at 3:01 pm IST on Tuesday.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised Shukla’s historic journey, calling it an inspiration to a billion Indians and a significant step toward India’s Gaganyaan mission—India’s upcoming crewed spaceflight planned for 2027.
During his time on the ISS, Shukla conducted seven scientific experiments in microgravity, including studies on Indian tardigrades, plant growth (methi and moong), muscle development, cyanobacteria, and microalgae. All mission objectives were successfully met, according to ISRO.
Shukla flew alongside astronaut Peggy Whitson (U.S.), Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski (Poland), and Tibor Kapu (Hungary), making this mission equally historic for Poland and Hungary, who also sent their first astronauts to the ISS.
Launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on June 25, the Axiom-4 mission marks the 18th human spaceflight by SpaceX since 2020. ISRO has hailed the mission as a “milestone” for India’s space ambitions and a vital step toward its future in human space exploration.
Shukla’s accomplishment not only advances science but also sparks renewed national pride in India’s growing role in space exploration.
