Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, India’s second astronaut after Rakesh Sharma, has safely returned to Earth after spending 18 days in space on a scientific mission to the International Space Station (ISS). He was part of the Axiom Mission-4 (Ax-4) — a private space mission — and flew on board SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft “Grace”.
The spacecraft landed safely at 3:01 PM IST off the coast of California on July 15, 2025. Shukla was accompanied by veteran American astronaut Peggy Whitson, along with Slawosz Uznanski Wisniewski from Europe and Tibor Kapu from Hungary. The team left the ISS on July 14 and completed a 22-hour journey back to Earth. Their capsule passed safely through Earth’s atmosphere and landed smoothly using parachutes.
What He Did in Space
During his time in space, Captain Shukla completed seven experiments designed by Indian scientists. These included studies on muscle repair, microbes in space, plant growth, and astronaut health. The work was done with help from ISRO and NASA.
The Ax-4 crew flew around the Earth 288 times in 18 days, traveling almost 7.6 million miles. The mission helped Indian scientists test how astronauts live and work in space — important learning ahead of India’s own human space mission called Gaganyaan, planned for 2027.
India Celebrates His Return
The spacecraft’s landing was shown live in many places, including a special event at Birla Industrial & Technological Museum in Kolkata. Visitors watched the splashdown, took part in quizzes, and learned more about rockets and space science.
Back in India, people were filled with pride. Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted, saying that Capt. Shukla “has inspired a billion dreams.” Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also praised him, saying he took India’s hopes to new heights.
In a heartfelt moment, Shukla’s mother in Lucknow was seen reading the Sundarkand (a prayer from Ramayana) while waiting for her son’s safe return — showing the deep emotions of the nation.
What’s Next for India’s Space Plans
Now that this mission is over, Capt. Shukla’s experience will help India prepare for its first independent spaceflight, Gaganyaan. His insights will support astronaut training, health care, and scientific work in space.
Shukla’s success is not just a personal milestone — it shows India’s growing strength in space science. It proves that India is ready to play a bigger role in global space missions and commercial space exploration.
This is a proud moment for every Indian — and a big leap forward for India’s journey into space.
