'A moment of glory...': Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla reaches Delhi, welcomed by Jitendra Singh, Rekha Gupta

Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla arrives at IGI Airport in Delhi.

Union Minister of State for Science and Technology, Jitendra Singh, on Sunday, welcomed Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla upon his arrival in Delhi. Shukla, who has become a symbol of India’s growing stature in space exploration, returned to India on Sunday after completing the historic AX-4 mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS), marking the country’s first human presence in space in 41 years.

In a brief statement at the airport, the minister highlighted the collaborative nature of the mission and underscored India’s commitment to advancing its space capabilities. He noted that Shukla’s achievement paves the way for future Indian space missions, including the Gaganyaan programme.

On Saturday, before boarding his flight to New Delhi, Shukla shared his reflections on X, writing about his mixed emotions after the mission.

“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,” he wrote.

The Axiom-4 mission was a commercial spaceflight to the International Space Station (ISS), where Shukla and his crewmates conducted a series of scientific experiments and research activities. His participation in the mission is seen as a significant step for India, which has been collaborating with international partners to expand its human spaceflight program. Following his return, Shukla is expected to undergo a series of medical checks and debriefings before sharing his experiences with the public.

The mission, conducted in collaboration with NASA and SpaceX, was aimed at providing practical experience for India’s upcoming Gaganyaan human spaceflight programme.

According to ISRO, Shukla carried out multiple experiments aboard the ISS and the Space Shuttle, with findings expected to directly support the Gaganyaan project.

The programme will begin with an unmanned flight later this year, followed by two more unmanned missions. Eventually, an Indian astronaut will spend 2–7 days in space aboard the Gaganyaan spacecraft.