Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla received a hero’s welcome in the early hours of Sunday as he returned to New Delhi following his groundbreaking mission to the International Space Station (ISS). Shukla, who spent the past year training in the United States for the Axiom-4 mission, was greeted at the airport by Union Minister Jitendra Singh, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, and ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan. Accompanying him was Group Captain Prashanth Balakrishnan Nair, his backup astronaut for India’s Gaganyaan program and the Axiom-4 mission.

Shukla’s return marks a milestone for India’s burgeoning space program. The astronaut is slated to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and visit his hometown, Lucknow, before joining the National Space Day celebrations in New Delhi on August 22–23. “India’s space glory touches Indian soil as our iconic Gaganyatri Shubhanshu Shukla lands in Delhi,” Union Minister Singh posted on X, also acknowledging Nair’s role as a key figure in India’s first human spaceflight mission, Gaganyaan.

Reflecting on his journey, Shukla shared an emotional Instagram post from his flight back to India, capturing the bittersweet moment of leaving behind his U.S.-based team while eagerly anticipating reuniting with loved ones. “I feel sad leaving a fantastic group of people who were my friends and family for the past year. I’m also excited to meet everyone in India post-mission,” he wrote, quoting his mission commander Peggy Whitson: “The only constant in spaceflight is change.” Shukla added a nostalgic touch, referencing the Bollywood song “Yun hi chala chal rahi” from Swades, which resonated with him before his June 25 launch.

Also Read: Lucknow Gears Up for Grand Parade Honoring Astronaut Shukla

The Axiom-4 mission, which lifted off from Florida on June 25 and docked at the ISS the following day, saw Shukla and three fellow astronauts—Peggy Whitson (U.S.), Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski (Poland), and Tibor Kapu (Hungary)—conduct over 60 scientific experiments and 20 outreach sessions during their 18-day stay. Shukla’s return on July 15 marked the culmination of a mission that showcased India’s growing prowess in space exploration. On Friday, he and Nair joined Independence Day celebrations at the Indian Consulate in Houston, further highlighting India’s global space ambitions.

Prime Minister Modi, addressing the nation during the 79th Independence Day celebrations at the Red Fort, hailed Shukla’s achievement and noted India’s progress toward developing its own space station. “Our Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla has returned from the space station, and he will soon be back in India,” Modi said, underscoring the mission’s significance.

Shukla’s homecoming has sparked widespread pride, with social media abuzz with messages of support. As India gears up for National Space Day, his experiences aboard the ISS are expected to inspire the next generation of scientists and explorers, cementing his legacy as a trailblazer in the nation’s space journey.

Also Read: PM Modi to Welcome Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla