Greater Noida(National Desk):In a blaze of glory that lit up the Pacific night sky, Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, who carried India’s tricolour into orbit after four decades, safely returned to Earth today, marking the triumphant conclusion of India’s first commercial spaceflight mission. The Crew Dragon spacecraft, carrying Shukla and his three Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) crewmates, splashed down around 3:01 PM IST (11:31 PM local time) off the coast of California, ending their groundbreaking 18-day mission to the International Space Station (ISS)—now being hailed as a landmark in India’s human spaceflight ambitions.
Soon after splashdown, Prime Minister Narendra Modi issued a statement:
“I join the nation in welcoming Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla as he returns to Earth from his historic mission to space. As India’s first astronaut to have visited the International Space Station, he has inspired a billion dreams through his dedication, courage and pioneering spirit. It marks another milestone towards our own Human Space Flight Mission – Gaganyaan.”
The Prime Minister’s words captured the national mood, as celebrations broke out across India—from schoolchildren building model rockets to ISRO scientists monitoring mission data in Bengaluru.
A Scientific and Symbolic Journey
Shukla’s mission was more than symbolic. During his 18 days in orbit, he contributed to approximately 60 scientific experiments, spanning:
- Plant biology – Studying root growth and plant stress responses in zero gravity
- Muscle health and bone density – Crucial for long-duration human spaceflight
- Microbial research – Understanding how bacteria and fungi behave in space
- Fluid dynamics and materials science – Advancing industrial and engineering applications
- Educational outreach – Conducting virtual sessions with students, including from India
In a formal statement, ISRO highlighted Shubhanshu’s contributions:
“Gaganyatri Shubhanshu Shukla, while speaking at the farewell ceremony, thanked Expedition 73 crew members for their support along with team ISRO for developing a scientific research portfolio, associated protocols as well as designing student outreach activities with national participation.”
Shubhanshu’s acknowledgment of ISRO reflects the behind-the-scenes role Indian scientists played in shaping parts of this mission, even though launch and operations were managed by NASA, SpaceX and Axiom Space.
Bridging the Gap Before Gaganyaan
Though not part of India’s indigenous Gaganyaan program, Shubhanshu’s journey is seen as a critical precursor. His participation in Ax-4 places India firmly back among active human spaceflight nations.
More importantly, his mission provides ISRO with valuable operational insights for preparing its own astronauts for India’s first homegrown crewed mission—expected within the next few years.
A Hero’s Return: India Rekindles Space Ambitions
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is now being hailed as a national icon—the second Indian to travel to space, after Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma’s 1984 mission, and the first to visit the ISS.
Unlike Rakesh’s Soviet-assisted flight, Shubhanshu’s mission reflects 21st-century global space collaboration—linking government agencies with private players, and nations with common scientific goals.
His contribution aboard the ISS was hands-on: conducting experiments, working alongside astronauts from the United States, Italy and Türkiye and representing India in orbit.
Looking Ahead: Gaganyaan and Beyond
Now back on Earth, Shubhanshu will undergo a 7-day rehabilitation program, supervised by a Flight Surgeon, to help his body readjust to Earth’s gravity. ISRO scientists are particularly eager to analyze over 400 hours of physiological data recorded during his mission—data that will directly inform astronaut training for Gaganyaan.
Attention will now shift to India’s next major space milestones:
- The crewed Gaganyaan mission, expected before 2030
- Possible future Indian astronauts flying aboard commercial spaceflights
- Expansion of India’s participation in international space projects
With the Gaganyaan program gaining momentum, today’s successful return may well be remembered as the moment India formally rejoined the community of human spacefaring nations.
In the words of PM Modi, Shubhanshu’s safe return “marks another milestone in India’s quest to reach the stars, this time under its own flag.”
For millions of young Indians, the face of Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla now represents India’s cosmic future.
Jai Hind. Jai Vigyan. Jai Antariksh.
About the Author
Mr. Hridaya Mohan (hridayamohan@yahoo.co.in) is a regular Columnist with a renowned Indian daily “The Hitavada”, “Bharat Neeti Media” and some other newspapers / magazines internationally. Superannuated as Executive Director, Steel Authority of India Ltd. (SAIL), he is Senior Adviser, Metallon Holdings Pvt. Ltd. presently. He headed SAIL office at Beijing as Chief Representative (China & Mongolia) for six years. He has published and presented seventeen papers globally. Recipient of “Sir M Visvesvaraya Gold Medal“for one of his papers, “Benchmarking of Maintenance Practices in Steel Industry” from The Institution of Engineers (India), he was awarded with “Scroll of Honour” for the excellent contributions to Engineering fraternity from IE(I), Bhilai, “Jawahar Award” for leadership excellence in SAIL and “Supply Chain Leader – 2017” award from IIMM.
