In a moment that lit up India’s space dreams, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla returned to Earth after a landmark 20-day journey to space, making history as the first Indian to visit the International Space Station (ISS) and only the second Indian in space after Rakesh Sharma.
On July 15, at 3:01 PM IST, the Crew Dragon capsule Grace gently splashed down into the cold waters of the Pacific Ocean off California. After nearly 288 orbits of Earth, Shukla stepped out—visibly moved, slightly wobbly, but beaming—greeted not just by medical staff but by the weight of an entire nation’s pride.
Shubhanshu Shukla was part of the Axiom-4 space mission, a globally collaborative mission alongside astronauts from the US, Poland, and Hungary. Together, the team conducted cutting-edge scientific research aboard the ISS, gathering over 580 pounds of research samples and insights vital to future space missions
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But beyond the science, this journey has become symbolic. In the words of India’s President, Shukla’s mission is a “milestone for the nation,” a sign that India isn’t just watching the stars anymore—it’s reaching out to hold them.
With India’s ambitious Gaganyaan human spaceflight program on the horizon, Shukla’s journey sets the perfect precedent. His return, expected in Delhi by August 17 after rehabilitation protocols, will not just be a homecoming—it’ll be a celebration of India’s arrival on the space stage.