New Delhi: A wave of national pride swept through the Indira Gandhi International Airport in the early hours of August 17 as Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, India’s second astronaut, touched down on home soil. His return marks the triumphant conclusion of a historic mission to the International Space Station (ISS), where he spent 18 days as part of the Axiom-4 private space mission.
Upon arrival, the ‘Gaganyatri’ was received with great fanfare by Union Minister Jitendra Singh, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, and ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan. Union Minister Singh, in a post on X, hailed Shukla as an “iconic son of Mother India,” noting that his return signified India’s space glory touching Indian soil. Group Captain Prashanth Balakrishnan Nair, Shukla’s backup astronaut for the mission, also returned to the country.
The astronaut’s return was anticipated by millions, especially after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s mention of his successful mission during the 79th Independence Day address from the Red Fort. Prior to his flight back, Shukla shared a heartfelt post on Instagram, reflecting on his journey with a mix of emotions. He expressed sadness at leaving the “fantastic group of people” who had become his friends and family during his year-long training in the US, but also immense excitement to meet his family and fellow citizens.
In his post, he quoted his commander, Peggy Whitson, saying, “The only constant in spaceflight is change,” and drew a parallel to life itself. He also recalled the iconic lines from the Bollywood movie Swades—”Yun hi chala chal rahi – jeevan gaadi hai samay pahiya” (Keep walking, traveller—life is the vehicle, and time is its wheel)—a song that was on his playlist just before he embarked on his mission on June 25.
Shukla and Nair had also represented India at the Independence Day celebrations at the Indian Consulate in Houston just before their departure. After a well-deserved reunion with family in his hometown of Lucknow, Shukla is expected to return to the capital to participate in the National Space Day celebrations scheduled for August 22-23, where he will undoubtedly share more insights from his groundbreaking journey.
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