India’s First ISS Astronaut Returns, PM Modi Welcomes Him Back
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla returned safely to Earth on 15 July 2025 after a historic mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS) — becoming the first Indian astronaut to visit the ISS.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed him with pride, calling his journey “an inspiration for a billion dreams” and a major step toward India’s upcoming Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission.
Shukla spent nearly 20 days in space as part of Axiom-SpaceX’s AX-4 mission, conducting over 60 scientific experiments and participating in a viral zero-gravity group photo.
His return marks a milestone in India's space journey, setting the stage for future Indian astronauts.