‘My Child Is Back’: Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla’s Parents Overjoyed After ISS Mission

The home of Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla in Lucknow turned into a scene of heartfelt celebration and national pride on Tuesday, as his family and well-wishers rejoiced at the news of his safe return from space. Shukla, who made history as the first Indian astronaut in over four decades to visit the International Space Station (ISS), splashed down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California at 3:00 PM IST, concluding the landmark Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission by Axiom Space.

The moment was deeply emotional for the Shukla family, who watched the live broadcast of the splashdown. As the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft "Grace" completed its descent after 18 days in orbit, tears of joy streamed down their faces.

Shukla's mother, Asha Shukla, speaking with emotion, said:
"Excitement is endless, we are very proud. I'm feeling very happy that my child is finally coming back after so many days. He told me yesterday it would be his last call from space, and that he was packing to leave. I just kept praying for his safe return. The next generation should take inspiration from him and move ahead."

His father, a retired army officer, expressed immense pride:
"This is not just our moment; this is a moment of pride for every Indian. He's made the country proud on an international platform."

The celebration extended beyond the Shukla home. Neighbours and supporters gathered outside, waving the Indian flag, distributing sweets, and chanting slogans such as "Vande Mataram" and "Bharat Mata Ki Jai". Children danced to patriotic songs while the family shared real-time updates from NASA and SpaceX.

Group Captain Shukla, along with his Ax-4 crewmates - Peggy Whitson (USA), Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski (Poland), and Tibor Kapu (Hungary) - boarded Dragon "Grace" on July 14, undocking from the ISS Harmony module. SpaceX confirmed the successful separation, beginning the 23-hour journey back to Earth.

Originally planned as a 14-day mission, the Ax-4 expedition was extended by four days to accommodate additional scientific experiments and outreach initiatives. Shukla played a key role throughout the mission, which launched aboard the Falcon 9 rocket from NASA's Kennedy Space Centre on June 26.

Before leaving the ISS, Shukla delivered a poignant message to his country:
"India still looks better than the whole world."

His return marks not only a personal milestone but also a historic chapter in India's space exploration journey. With ISRO's Gaganyaan mission on the horizon, Shukla's achievement is seen as a precursor to India's future human spaceflight programs.

Shukla will now begin a seven-day rehabilitation program to help him readjust to Earth's gravity after his time in microgravity aboard the ISS.