In the early hours of Sunday, August 17, 2025, Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, the second Indian to journey into space and the first to visit the International Space Station (ISS), was greeted with a hero's welcome upon his arrival at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport.
Shukla's return marks the end of his successful participation in NASA's Axiom-4 mission. The mission launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on June 25 and included an 18-day stay aboard the ISS. He splashed down off the coast of California on July 15.
Upon landing in Delhi, Shukla was received by a host of dignitaries, including Union Minister of State for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, and senior officials from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). His wife, Kamna, was also present to welcome him home. Outside the airport, large crowds gathered, waving the Indian flag and celebrating with traditional dhols.
Jitendra Singh shared a video of Shukla's arrival on X, formerly Twitter, stating, "India's Space glory touches the Indian soil… as the iconic son of Mother India, #Gaganyatri Shubhanshu Shukla lands at Delhi in the early hours of morning today". He also acknowledged the presence of Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair, who served as Shukla's backup for the Axiom-4 mission and is also part of India's Gaganyaan mission.
Shukla's journey to the ISS is a historic moment for India, marking the country's return to human spaceflight after 41 years, since Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma's mission in 1984. As the first Indian astronaut to visit the ISS, Shukla's mission holds immense significance for India's future space endeavors.
During his 18 days on the ISS, Shukla conducted multiple scientific experiments in microgravity, which ISRO believes will directly contribute to the preparations for India's Gaganyaan human spaceflight program. The Gaganyaan program is expected to begin with an unmanned mission later this year. Shukla's contributions are expected to lay the groundwork for sending an Indian astronaut to space aboard an indigenous spacecraft in the coming years.
Before departing from the United States, Shukla shared an emotional message on social media, expressing mixed feelings about leaving his friends and colleagues while also looking forward to reuniting with his family and the nation. He quoted his commander, veteran astronaut Peggy Whitson, saying, "the only constant in spaceflight is change".
Shukla is scheduled to travel to Lucknow to reunite with his family and is expected to meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the coming days. He is also expected to participate in the National Space Day celebrations on August 23.
The Lok Sabha will hold a special discussion on India's space journey and Shukla's mission on Monday, focusing on the critical role of the space program in making India a developed nation by 2047.
Shukla's mission is also seen as a symbol of growing cooperation between India and the United States in space exploration. During Prime Minister Modi's visit to Washington, ISRO and NASA signed an agreement to enable Indian astronauts' participation in US-led missions to the ISS. India also has plans for a Bharatiya Antariksh Station (Indian Space Station) by 2035 and a crewed mission to the moon by 2040.
