Emotional scenes as India celebrates historic space mission, Shubanshu Shukla’s mother turns teary eyed

Indian astronaut Shubanshu Shukla, along with three fellow astronauts, safely landed in San Diego today as part of the successful Axiom-4 mission. The commercial spaceflight, which lasted 18 days, marked a historic milestone for India, with Shukla becoming the first Indian to visit the International Space Station (ISS) under a private spaceflight program.

Also read: India’s Shubhanshu Shukla returns safely after historic space mission

The spacecraft splashed down along the California coast at around 3 PM IST, prompting emotional scenes back home. Shukla’s family in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, was overwhelmed with joy and pride. His mother was seen in tears, deeply moved by the safe return of her son. The family celebrated by distributing sweets and waving the Indian flag in jubilation.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded the achievement, calling it a proud moment for the nation. “Shubanshu Shukla is an inspiration to hundreds of crores of dreams across India,” said the Prime Minister in a statement, hailing the mission as a symbol of India’s growing presence in global space exploration.

Group Captain Shukla led the four-member team on the Axiom-4 mission, which signifies growing international collaboration in space and India’s increasing role in such efforts. His safe return marks a new chapter for Indian astronauts on the global stage.

India today stands tall, as one of its own returns from space to a hero’s welcome.