Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday hailed the safe return of Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, calling it a proud moment that fuels the country’s ambition for its Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission.
SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft ‘Grace’, carrying Shukla and three other astronauts from the Axiom Space Mission-4 (Ax-4), splashed down in the Pacific Ocean off the California coast at 3:01 PM IST (4:31 AM CT).
Welcoming Shukla back to Earth, PM Modi posted on X, “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 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.”
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 International Space Station, he has inspired a billion dreams through his dedication, courage and pioneering…
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 15, 2025
Shukla, along with astronauts Peggy Whitson (USA), Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski (Poland), and Tibor Kapu (Hungary), had boarded the spacecraft at 3:30 AM CT (2 PM IST) on Monday.
His journey to the ISS began on 26 June, making him the first Indian to visit the space station and the second Indian in space after Rakesh Sharma’s landmark mission in 1984.
Union Minister Calls It a ‘Moment of Glory’
Union Minister of State for Science and Technology described the event on X as ‘a moment of glory’, stating, “A moment of glory for India as one of her illustrious sons returns from a successful voyage… having conducted for the posterity, life-bearing experiments in microgravity, never done before. Bharat today finds an enduring Space in the world of Space !”
Congratulations Team #Axiom4!
A moment of pride for the world as “Dragon” successfully splashes down, off the California coast near San Diago.
A moment of glory for India as one of her illustrious sons returns from a successful voyage… having conducted for the posterity,… pic.twitter.com/vZHzykeTQr
— Dr Jitendra Singh (@DrJitendraSingh) July 15, 2025
During his 18-day mission aboard the ISS, Shukla orbited Earth over 310 times, covering nearly 1.3 crore kilometres, roughly 33 times the Earth-Moon distance, and witnessed more than 300 sunrises and sunsets.
ISRO confirmed on Monday that all seven scheduled microgravity experiments had been successfully completed.
These included research on an Indian strain of tardigrades, muscle cell development, sprouting of methi and moong seeds, as well as studies involving cyanobacteria, microalgae, and crop seeds.
Following splashdown, Shukla and his fellow crewmates will undergo a week-long rehabilitation under the supervision of flight surgeons to help readjust to Earth’s gravity.
Also Read: ‘His Noble Ideals Inspire Us All’: PM Modi Pays Tribute To K Kamaraj On Birth Anniversary
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