Shubhanshu Shukla reunites with family after historic space mission | Pictures

The pictures of him reuniting with his family are being shared widely across social media platforms

Following his historic 18-day stay on the International Space Station (ISS), Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla reunited with his family on Wednesday.

The pictures of him reuniting with his family are being shared widely across social media platforms.

Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, or Shuks as he is known to his colleagues, friends and now legions of followers, splashed down on earth after 18 days aboard the ISS on Tuesday, July 15, along with three other astronauts.

Earlier, speaking to news agency PTI, his wife Kamna said, “Now that Shubhanshu has safely returned, our immediate focus will be on his rehabilitation and ensuring he smoothly readjusts to life on earth. For us, simply being reunited after this incredible journey is a celebration in itself.”

Kamna has been in the US ever since Shubhanshu began his preparation for his lift-off on SpaceX from Florida on June 25.

The return flight concluded the fourth ISS mission organised by Texas-based startup Axiom Space in collaboration with SpaceX, the private rocket venture of billionaire Elon Musk headquartered near Los Angeles.

Gp Capt Shubhanshu Shukla reunites with his family after returning from space ❤️🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/yfENxJr7ed

— ISRO Spaceflight (@ISROSpaceflight) July 16, 2025

On Wednesday, the union cabinet congratulated Shukla for the successful completion of his historic mission and asserted that it heralded a new chapter in India's space programme.

The Cabinet, at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, adopted a resolution that termed Shukla's space journey as a moment of pride, glory and joy for the entire nation and represented infinite aspirations of India.

"The Cabinet joins the nation in celebrating the return of Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla to Earth, following the successful completion of his historic 18-day mission aboard the International Space Station," Information & Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said reading out the resolution adopted at the meeting.

Shukla became the first Indian to travel to the ISS.