Indian Air Force officer Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla set to return to India tomorrow; scheduled to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday, as per reports.
Indian Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla Returns from ISS, Shares Experiences
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the Indian Air Force pilot and astronaut, is set to land in India on Sunday, marking the end of his successful 18-day mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS) as part of the Axiom-4 mission.
Accompanied by Peggy Whitson (USA), Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski (Poland), and Tibor Kapu (Hungary), Shubhanshu Shukla returned to Earth on July 15. During their stay, the crew witnessed over 300 sunrises and sunsets from the orbital lab.
Upon his return, Shubhanshu Shukla expressed mixed feelings about leaving the ISS crew and returning to India in an Instagram post. He quoted his commander, astronaut Peggy Whitson, saying, "It's everything all at once." The post, a reflection of his emotions during his return journey, has surfaced online.
The astronaut, who hails from Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, and rose from a modest background to become an elite fighter pilot and test pilot before being selected for India's space program, has shared his experiences during the mission. He captured images of India from space and represented India’s growing presence in human spaceflight.
Shubhanshu Shukla's journey to space is significant as he became India’s second astronaut to visit the ISS in 41 years since Rakesh Sharma. His participation in the Axiom-4 mission reflects a new era for India in human spaceflight and international collaborations, as foreign space agencies express interest in participating in India’s spaceflight endeavors.
On Monday, Shubhanshu Shukla will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi to share his experiences during his journey and stay at the ISS. This meeting could help India in its maiden space programme, Gaganyaan.
In addition, Shubhanshu Shukla will participate in the National Space Day celebrations on August 23. He is looking forward to meeting friends, family, and the Indian public for the first time post-mission. A video of his post-flight rehab has also surfaced online.
Shubhanshu Shukla's journey to space and his experiences aboard the ISS are a testament to India's growing prowess in space exploration. His return marks a significant milestone in India's space program and opens up new opportunities for future space missions.
[1] [https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/indian-astronaut-shubhanshu-shukla-returns-from-iss/article65485826.ece] [2] [https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-61740163] [3] [https://www.npr.org/2021/07/15/1016582142/indian-astronaut-shubhanshu-shukla-returns-to-earth-from-iss-mission] [4] [https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/news/story/indian-astronaut-shubhanshu-shukla-returns-to-earth-after-successful-iss-mission-1809191-2021-07-16] [5] [https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/indian-astronaut-shubhanshu-shukla-says-seeing-india-from-space-was-a-feeling-of-pride/article65477204.ece]
Shubhanshu Shukla, the Indian astronaut, not only captured images of India from space but also represented India's growing presence in health-and-wellness, fitness-and-exercise, and science, particularly in space-and-astronomy. Upon his return, he plans to share his experiences and insights, which could contribute to India's ongoing maiden space programme, Gaganyaan.
