Delhi (The Stellar News), Sadhika Jain:Group Captain and Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla completed his 18 day trip to the International Space Station (ISS) . Shukla along with his three crew members Peggy Whitson from the US, Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski of Poland and Tibor Kapu of Hungary, had splashed down in the cold waters of the Pacific Ocean, off the coast of California on July,15.The mission began on 26,June.
Shukla became the second Indian National in space and First to enter the International Space Station through the Axiom-4 Mission. The Ax-4 misson, seen as precussor to Isro’s upcoming Gaganyaan Human Spaceflight Programme.
The team conducted Seven microgravity experiments aboard Iss. The data will help the partner Nations to plan future collaborative space missions and achieve milestones in upcoming missions.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed Shubhanshu to Earth and said, ‘he has inspired a billion dreams through his dedication, courage and pioneering spirit’ .Congratulating the crew President Droupadi Murmu said “A hearty welcome to Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla as he comes back on Earth after his space journey. His role in piloting of Axiom Mission 4 to the International Space Station has created a new milestone for India’s space exploration as well as for international collaboration in science and technology.”
Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla returned to Earth aboard the Dragon capsule Grace, which splashed down off California. The Axiom-4 crew exited safely after recovery checks. Their 22.5-hour journey from the ISS included multiple burns, parachute deployment, and cargo transfer. ISRO spent Rs 5 billion on Shukla’s trip on Axiom-4 — a commercial flight operated by Houston-based private company Axiom Space and a joint effort by NASA, ISRO and European Space Agency.
Shukla is a 39-year-old Indian Air Force officer and test pilot, resident of Lucknow on Tuesday he Made India Proud by Sucessfully Completing his Mission
‘His achievement is not just a personal milestone but a proud moment for the entire nation. His space journey will forever stand as a golden chapter in India’s space odyssey. This feat is a big step toward India’s own human spaceflight mission, Gaganyaan. I wish him continued success in all his future endeavours’ said Nadda on X
The Axiom-4 is not only the mission that carried the largest number of scientific experiments- 60 experiments representing 31 countries but it also represented the return of astronauts from three countries, India, Hungary and Poland, back in space after four decades. This is why the mission was themed “Realise the Return”
