He lifted India's aspirations to new heights: Rajnath upon Shubhanshu Shukla return to Earth
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday said Shubhanshu Shukla has not just touched space, but also "lifted India's aspirations to new heights" after the first Indian astronaut to visit the International Space Station returned to Earth after a 20-day space sojourn.Singh, a Lok Sabha member from Lucknow, spoke to Shukla's father on the phone to convey his greetings and told him that the country is proud of his son's achievements.Waving and smiling at cameras, Shukla and the three other astronauts emerged from the Dragon 'Grace' spacecraft on Tuesday, taking their first breath of fresh air after completing their space sojourn.The Dragon spacecraft splashed down off the San Diego coast in southern California at 3:01 PM IST, capping a 20-day space travel of which 18 days were spent at the International Space Station.
Shukla, a 39-year-old Indian Air Force officer and test pilot, completed his maiden space voyage as part of the Axiom-4 mission, a commercial spaceflight supported by ISRO and NASA, and operated by Axiom Space.
"Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla's successful return from the historic Axiom-4 mission is a proud moment for every Indian. He has not just touched space, he has lifted India's aspirations to new heights. His journey to the International Space Station and back is not just a personal milestone; it is a proud stride for India's growing space ambitions. Wishing him great success in his future endeavours," Singh posted on X.The IAF also posted a congratulatory message on X, welcoming Shukla."Welcome back to Earth, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla. All Air Warriors of the Indian Air Force extend heartfelt congratulations on the successful completion of the Axiom-4 mission," it posted.The IAF also shared a digital poster carrying a profile photo of the Indian astronaut and a caption -- 'An odyssey of courage, strength and inspiration'. The slogan 'Sare Jehan Se Acha Hindustan Hamara' was also written on it in a tri-colour theme.
In Lucknow, "Bharat Mata Ki Jai" chants and a resounding applause rent the air as the capital city of Uttar Pradesh celebrated the moment the spacecraft carrying the Lucknow-born Shukla made the touchdown on Earth. While Shukla's father, Shambhu Dayal Shukla, and mother Asha Devi wiped their tears, his sister, Suchi Misra, welcomed her brother's landing with moist eyes and folded hands.
The journey marked a milestone for India: Shukla is the first Indian to step aboard the ISS and only the second Indian to go into space, following Rakesh Sharma's iconic flight in 1984. Born on October 10, 1985, just a year after Sharma's spaceflight, Shukla grew up in Lucknow in a middle-class family with no direct links to aviation or space. But a childhood visit to an airshow lit a spark.
A senior official said the defence minister spoke to his father and conveyed to him that the country is proud of his son's achievements.
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Time of India
41 minutes ago
- Time of India
Day after touchdown, Shubhanshu dials family: I am fine, smiling, see you soon
Lucknow: After the successful completion of the Axiom-4 mission and his safe return to earth, Indian astronaut made his first call to his family on Wednesday. The call was a moment of relief for his family. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now His father, Shambhu Dayal Shukla, said, "He called us as soon as he could. He said 'Papa, I am fine, I am back and I am smiling.' Hearing his voice, this time from earth brought us peace. " "He told us about the mission and said he has completed it. He asked how everyone at home was doing and made sure we were all fine. He wanted to know if we were worried and told us not to worry anymore. Hearing his calm voice gave us so much relief. We could feel how happy he was to come back to earth. We thank God for giving him the success he has achieved, all our prayers have been listened to," said Shambhu Dayal Shukla, his father. There were celebrations in the neighborhood as people danced, burst firecrackers, and distributed sweets. The brief call reassured everyone at home. Relatives and neighbours visited to congratulate the family, sharing in their happiness. The Shukla family is now looking forward to seeing Shubhanshu return home and spending time together after his successful space mission. "Everyone came to congratulate us, and it felt like the whole neighbourhood was part of our joy. It was a proud moment for all of us. Now we are just waiting for him to come home so we can all be together and celebrate properly. We want to see him, hear all about his experience in person, and thank him for making us so proud," he added. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now His mother, Asha Shukla, said, "He told us he is okay and will come home soon. That's all we wanted to hear. We are planning a big welcome for him because he deserves it. Everyone in the family is very proud of what he has done. We have been talking about how to celebrate when he comes back. We just want him home, safe and smiling with us."
India.com
an hour ago
- India.com
Shubhanshu Shukla Landed In Ocean, While Rakesh Sharma Returned On Land – Here's Why
New Delhi: In the silence of space, homecoming is not always about wheels touching concrete. On his return from a successful space mission, Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla splashed down safely into the Pacific Ocean near California, riding aboard the SpaceX Dragon capsule. His descent was smooth, calculated and calm. This moment evoked another chapter in history, one that began nearly 41 years ago on a dusty plain in Kazakhstan. Back in April 1984, Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma, India's first man in space, had returned aboard the Soviet Soyuz T-10 capsule. His landing site was the sprawling and marshy fields of Arkalyk in Kazakhstan. His mission had taken him to the Soviet Salyut 7 space station. His return was noisy, turbulent and almost jarring. But it was historic. And it raised a question as to why did one astronaut return to land and the other to sea? The answer is a blend of spacecraft design, logistics, safety calculations and national strategy. A Safe Touchdown or a Splash? Ocean landings, what engineers call 'splashdowns', are often the first choice for missions returning to the United States. SpaceX's Dragon, like Apollo missions before it, lands in the ocean. The water cushions the impact. It also provides a massive natural buffer zone. Debris from the spacecraft's trunk is jettisoned before reentry, falling harmlessly into the ocean instead of onto populated land. But even splashdowns have their risks. Earlier this year, chunks of a discarded Dragon trunk were found across remote areas of Australia and Canada. Luckily, no one was harmed. The incident proved that even the ocean is not foolproof. Landing on solid ground, on the other hand, may look simpler but it is far from it. Boeing's Starliner did just that in 2024, gliding to a touchdown at the White Sands Space Harbor in New Mexico. Russia and China have preferred land landings for decades. Their capsules come down in vast and controlled stretches of wilderness like Kazakhstan or Inner Mongolia. The benefits? Easier recovery, lower cost and no need for naval support. The risks? A harder landing. More shock to the body. Especially for astronauts re-adapting to gravity after days or weeks in orbit. Spacecraft Design Dictates Landing Style Spacecraft are not one-size-fits-all. Each vehicle is engineered with a specific reentry plan. Whether it is Russia's Soyuz, China's Shenzhou, SpaceX's Dragon or Boeing's Starliner, the choice of landing site is built into the capsule's very bones. In Shubhanshu Shukla's case, a splashdown made sense. SpaceX missions are designed for water landings. The Pacific Ocean provides flexibility, comfort and recovery access. The crew's safety comes first. Recovery vessels wait in position, and helicopters are often deployed to reach the crew within minutes of touchdown. But for the Soyuz capsule that brought back Rakesh Sharma, a parachute-guided descent onto hard land was the norm. That mission ended in the semi-frozen earth near Arkalyk, a desolate stretch where generations of Soviet cosmonauts had landed. The rugged Kazakh steppe has long been used for such operations, its openness reducing the risk to nearby populations. A Veteran Remembers Rakesh Sharma opened up in 2024 about that return to earth. Speaking to PTI, he had described the raw and jarring final moments of reentry. 'The return was more dramatic than expected. There was a point when I thought it might not go as planned. And suddenly, the parachute opened. There was a lot of noise. More than we were prepared for,' he had said. It was a reminder. Reentry is not a routine a descent. It is survival. Space, Then and Now From Sharma's Soviet capsule in 1984 to Shukla's SpaceX Dragon in 2024, much has changed. Technology has evolved. Private players have stepped in. Comfort and control have improved. But one thing has not changed – earth is still a hard place to return to. For Shubhanshu Shukla, the sea offered calm and precision. For Rakesh Sharma, the earth offered resilience and tradition. Two astronauts. Two eras. Two very different journeys back home.
Deccan Herald
2 hours ago
- Deccan Herald
Shubhanshu's homecoming: Wife Kamna looks forward to simple pleasures and togetherness
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 International Space Station (ISS) on Tuesday. He is the first Indian on ISS.
