Shux returning to India: Likely to meet PM Modi, resume Gaganyaan training

India Today

21 hours ago

Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla has begun his long-awaited journey back to India after successfully completing the Ax-4 mission, marking a historic milestone as the first Indian aboard the International Space Station.Shukla, who spent nearly a year collaborating with an international crew for the Ax-4 mission, shared an emotional message as he boarded his flight home.'As I sit on the plane to come back to India, I have a mix of emotions running through my heart. I feel sad leaving a fantastic group of people behind who were my friends and family for the past one 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. I guess this is what life is — everything all at once,' Shukla reflected.advertisement
The Ax-4 mission, launched under Axiom Space's commercial program with international collaboration, saw Shukla engage in critical research experiments, outreach initiatives, and operational work supporting next-generation space objectives.His presence on the mission was celebrated not only as a personal achievement but also as a moment of pride for India, highlighting the country's growing role in global space exploration.Acknowledging the support he received, Shukla wrote, 'Having received incredible love and support from everyone during and after the mission, I can't wait to come back to India to share my experiences with all of you. Goodbyes are hard but we need to keep moving in life. As my commander Peggy Whitson fondly says, 'the only constant in spaceflight is change'. I believe that applies to life as well.'The heartfelt note closed with lines from a Hindi song, where Shukla likened life to a train that keeps moving forward with time as its wheels. His words resonated with followers, blending the personal and the philosophical in a way that captured the gravity of his journey. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Shubhanshu Shukla (@gagan.shux)Shubhanshu Shukla's return is being eagerly awaited by both the nation and its space community. With his homecoming, India prepares to celebrate not just an astronaut's safe return, but also the dawn of new aspirations in human space exploration.The astronaut will travel to Lucknow to be with his family and is expected to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi before resuming traning for the upcoming Gaganyaan Mission in October.- EndsMust Watch