Shubhanshu Shukla Returns Home: Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla marked an unprecedented milestone for Indian space exploration on Tuesday afternoon when he safely returned to Earth after completing the Axiom-4 mission. At around 3 p.m. IST, the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule Grace, carrying Shukla and three other astronauts, splashed down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California.

Shukla became the first Indian astronaut to visit the International Space Station (ISS) and only the second Indian in space, following Rakesh Sharma’s Soviet mission in 1984. Hailing from Lucknow, Shukla studied at City Montessori School in Aliganj before graduating. The Indian Air Force commissioned him as a fighter pilot in 2006, and since then, he has accumulated over 2,000 flight hours and served for more than 16 years. Family and friends fondly call him Gunjan. He is the youngest of three siblings and the first in his family to join the military. Shukla also has a four-year-old son, who watched his father make history from back home.

Also Read: Shubhanshu Shukla Returns Home After Making Space History

Shukla calls his career a “rollercoaster ride” after being commissioned into the Indian Air Force on June 17, 2006. He has excelled in his field, becoming a fighter combat leader and test pilot with experience in various aircraft, including the Su-30MKI, MIG-21, MIG-29, Jaguar, and Hawk.

Axiom Space Project:

Axiom Space’s official website reveals that Shubhanshu Shukla received a pivotal call from ISRO in 2019, setting him on a path to space. He then began an intensive year-long training program at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Moscow, where he prepared for future missions under demanding conditions.

On February 27, 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi formally introduced Shukla as one of the elite astronauts selected for Gaganyaan, India’s first human spaceflight mission, which is slated to launch in 2025. By then, Shukla had already proven his capabilities through extensive international training. During a live interaction from orbit, Shukla shared his experience from his first day in space. “What a ride!” he exclaimed, adding that it had been “a fun time” and “an amazing feeling to be just floating in space.”

Also Read: Did NTR and MGR Influence Pawan’s Hari Hara Veera Mallu Role?

Share

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
•