Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, India’s first astronaut to live and work aboard the International Space Station (ISS), has completed his historic 18-day mission in space. Shukla, who made history by becoming the first Indian to visit the ISS, has finally returned to Earth, exiting SpaceX's Dragon capsule and experiencing gravity once again after nearly three weeks in space.
Shukla’s safe return was marked by a successful splashdown in the Pacific Ocean near San Diego at approximately 3:01 pm IST. The event signifies the successful conclusion of the historic Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission, which was launched in collaboration with SpaceX.
This groundbreaking mission further cements India’s growing presence in space exploration. Shukla’s return is not only a major milestone for India’s space program but also for global space exploration efforts, demonstrating the potential for astronauts from across the world to work aboard the ISS.
As the first Indian astronaut to travel to the ISS, Shukla’s journey is a remarkable achievement. After spending 18 days in the microgravity environment of the ISS, Shukla’s return to Earth and the experience of gravity are monumental moments in his space career.
