'Coming Home.:' Shubhanshu Shukla Reunites With Family After 18 Days In Space

Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla reunited with his wife, Kamna Shukla and six-year-old son Kiash Shukla after his 18-day mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Shukla, along with three other astronauts - commander Peggy Whitson, and mission specialists Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski of Poland and Tibor Kapu of Hungary, splashed down on Earth on July 15 after completing the private Axiom-4 mission. They returned to Earth after a 22-hour journey aboard SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft.

"Coming back to Earth and holding my family back in my arms felt like home. Find a loved one today and tell them that you love them. We often get busy in life and forget how important the people in our lives are. Human spaceflight missions are magical but they are made magical by the humans," Shukla wrote in an Instagram post.

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Indian Air Force (IAF) Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla has made history by becoming the first Indian astronaut to journey to the International Space Station (ISS) in nearly four decades. He also became the second Indian to travel to space after Rakesh Sharma's 1984 sojourn as part of a Soviet Russian mission.

Shukla’s milestone comes forty years after Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma, the first Indian in space, flew aboard a Soviet Soyuz spacecraft in 1984. Sharma’s iconic response to former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s question, 'How does India look from space?' 'Saare jahan se achha', remains etched in the hearts of Indians to this day.

After six delays and rescheduling, the Axiom-4 mission finally launched successfully. The four-member crew is now en route to the ISS, with Shukla representing India’s growing presence in commercial and collaborative space exploration.

Shukla, who currently serves as an astronaut for the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), is joined by Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski from Poland, Tibor Kapu from Hungary, and Peggy Whitson, a veteran NASA astronaut and current Director of Human Spaceflight at Axiom Space, who is commanding this commercial mission.

The launch occurred at 2:31 a.m. EDT (12:01 p.m. IST) from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The Axiom-4 mission is the fourth private astronaut flight to the ISS, part of Axiom Space’s larger plan to build the world’s first commercial space station.

Shukla’s participation is seen as a significant moment for India's space diplomacy and growing collaboration with international space agencies and private players like SpaceX and Axiom.

In a YouTube video posted during the launch, Subhanshu Shukla reflected on how he wishes to inspire the future generations of India through the Axiom-4 mission.

"It is my sincere endeavour through my mission to inspire an entire generation back home in the country. I want to use this opportunity to ignite curiosity among kids. Even if this story, my story, is able to change one life, it would be a huge success for me."

President Droupadi Murmu took to X to congratulate Shubhanshu Shukla for creating a milestone in Indian Space History. Her post read:

“As Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla creates a new milestone in space for India, the whole nation is excited and proud of an Indian’s journey into the stars. He and his fellow astronauts of Axiom Mission 4 from the US, Poland and Hungary prove the world is indeed one family – ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’. My best wishes for the success of this mission, which reflects the enduring partnership between NASA and ISRO. The wide ranging experiments to be performed by the crew will lead to new frontiers of scientific studies and space exploration.”

PM Narendra Modi has congratulated the crew of the Axiom-4 mission for their successful launch. His post on X read:

“We welcome the successful launch of the Space Mission carrying astronauts from India, Hungary, Poland, and the US. The Indian Astronaut, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, is on the way to become the first Indian to go to International Space Station. He carries with him the wishes, hopes, and aspirations of 1.4 billion Indians. Wish him and other astronauts all the success!” 

Before he scripts history by travelling to space, Shubhanshu Shukla penned an emotional note for his wife, Kamna. “Special thanks to Kamna for being the wonderful partner that you are. Without you none of this was possible but more importantly none of this would matter,” said Shukla. He also shared a photograph that shows them saying goodbye through opposite sides a glass wall.

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The crew is slated to spend 14 days aboard the space station conducting microgravity research. Shubhanshu Shukla will be performing yoga in space and is also expected to share some traditional Indian dishes with his fellow astronauts, marking a special cultural touch for this historic mission.

Meet the First Indian Astronaut to Pilot Axiom-4

NASA Space Operations previously shared on X, "NASA and its international partners have approved the crew for Axiom Space’s fourth private astronaut mission to the International Space Station, launching from NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre in Florida no earlier than spring 2025." 

The post continued, "Peggy Whitson, former NASA astronaut and director of human spaceflight at Axiom Space, will command the commercial mission, while Indian Space Research Organization astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla will serve as pilot."

.@NASA and its international partners have approved the crew for Axiom Space’s fourth private astronaut mission to the @Space_Station, launching from @NASAKennedy in Florida no earlier than spring 2025.

Peggy Whitson, former NASA astronaut and director of human spaceflight at… pic.twitter.com/HIb2otrmjx

— NASA Space Operations (@NASASpaceOps) January 29, 2025

Shubhanshu Shukla's Journey From Lucknow To Space

Born on October 10, 1985, in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, Shubhanshu Shukla has always had a passion for aviation. He joined the Indian Air Force in June 2006 as a fighter pilot and was promoted to the rank of Group Captain in March 2024. Throughout his career, Shukla has honed his skills flying several fighter jets, including the Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, MiG-29, Jaguar, Hawk, Dornier, and An-32. Known for his dedication and expertise, he has emerged as a distinguished officer within the Indian Air Force.

Shukla was also chosen as one of the four pilots for India’s highly anticipated human spaceflight mission, Gaganyaan, which is set to make India the fourth country to send humans into space independently. His selection for the ISS mission further solidifies his place among the top pilots in India and highlights his exceptional skills in the field of aviation and space exploration.

While Shukla is the primary astronaut for this mission, Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair was appointed as his backup.