For nearly three weeks, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla orbited the planet aboard the International Space Station (ISS), making history as the first Indian to enter the space lab floating 400 km above Earth. On Tuesday, his 18-day mission concluded with a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean near San Diego, after completing over 310 orbits and covering approximately 13 million kilometres. The return went smoothly. SpaceX’s Dragon capsule, which brought back Shukla and his fellow Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) astronauts, landed at 3:02 pm IST. They had undocked from the ISS the previous day at 4:50 pm, and the journey back took around 22 hours. Recovery teams responded swiftly, and by 4 pm, the astronauts emerged from the capsule, adjusting once again to Earth’s gravity. Medical teams were quick to assess their physical condition and gather data on the impact of the mission.

Shukla’s spaceflight was a landmark moment for India. He is only the second Indian in space, after Rakesh Sharma’s historic Soviet mission in 1984. But today, India’s space goals have expanded — they are more ambitious and internationally collaborative. The Ax-4 mission was jointly undertaken by ISRO, NASA, Axiom Space, and SpaceX. It also served as a stepping stone to India’s upcoming Gaganyaan human spaceflight, expected in 2027, and future plans like an Indian space station by 2035 and a Moon mission involving an Indian astronaut by 2040. From orbit, Shukla sent a heartfelt message: “Today’s India looks ambitious, fearless, confident, and proud. Aaj ka Bharat abhi bhi sare jahan se acha dikhta hai.”

Back on Earth, the pride was echoed. Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed Shukla’s return, calling it an inspiration to the nation and a milestone on the road to Gaganyaan. India spent about ₹500 crore on its involvement in the Ax-4 mission — an investment that paid off not just symbolically, but scientifically. The astronauts conducted around 60 experiments in space, including seven designed by Indian institutions. For Axiom Space, it was the fourth crewed mission as it works toward building a commercial space station. For India, it was a critical test run — and a signal of things to come.

Shukla, an IAF pilot since 2006, has flown various aircraft including the Su-30 MKI and MiG-29, and is an alumnus of the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru — reflecting the integration of India’s military, academic, and technological strengths. In many ways, he was the ideal astronaut for such a historic mission. India’s private space industry is optimistic. Pawan Kumar Chandana of Skyroot Aerospace noted that such collaborations can help India grow beyond its current 2% share in the global space economy and empower private companies to take bolder steps.

This mission was about more than one man’s journey — it represented a nation ready to transition from launching satellites to full-scale human spaceflight and deep space exploration. As A K Bhatt of the Indian Space Association put it, “This is a stepping stone. It will energize ISRO and give momentum to both global and domestic space companies. It’s a major leap toward India’s long-term vision for space.”