Indian Air Force Test Pilot and astronaut Capt. Shubhanshu Shukla, who recently completed his maiden space mission aboard the Axiom-4 flight to the International Space Station (ISS), is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi today.
Shukla, affectionately known as “Shux,” returned to India alongside fellow astronaut Gp. Capt. P Balakrishnan Nair, following a successful stint in space he conducted seven scientific experiments commissioned by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). These experiments focused on microgravity’s effects on human physiology and advanced material sciences, contributing to India’s Gaganyaan human spaceflight program.
Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju announced that Parliament will hold a special discussion to honour Shukla’s achievement, calling it “a historic milestone for the nation.”
In a heartfelt message before his return, Shukla wrote, “I feel sad leaving a fantastic group of people behind who were my friends and family for the past year during this mission. I am also excited about meeting all my friends, family and everyone in the country for the first time post mission.”
Both Shukla and Nair are part of India’s Gaganyaan astronaut corps and will resume training in October at ISRO’s Human Space Flight Centre. India’s roadmap includes launching its first crewed Gaganyaan mission by 2027, establishing a Bharatiya Antriksh Station by 2035, and landing a human on the Moon by 2040.
