President Murmu, PM Modi welcome Shubhanshu Shukla back to earth: ‘inspired a billion dreams’

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…

— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) July 15, 2025

PM Modi, too, in a post on X, wrote: “I join the nation in welcoming Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla as he returns to Earth from his historic mission to Space. As India’s first astronaut to have visited International Space Station, he has inspired a billion dreams through his dedication, courage and pioneering spirit.”

I join the nation in welcoming Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla as he returns to Earth from his historic mission to Space. As India’s first astronaut to have visited International Space Station, he has inspired a billion dreams through his dedication, courage and pioneering…

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 15, 2025

The Prime Minister also linked the achievement to India’s future space ambitions, calling it “another milestone towards our own Human Space Flight Mission – Gaganyaan.”

Union minister Jitendra Singh also hailed Shukla’s return, in a post on X, he said: “Bharat today has truly found an enduring space in the world of Space.”

Congratulations Team #Axiom4!

A moment of pride for the world as “Dragon” successfully splashes down, off the California coast near San Diago.

A moment of glory for India as one of her illustrious sons returns from a successful voyage… having conducted for the posterity,… pic.twitter.com/vZHzykeTQr

— Dr Jitendra Singh (@DrJitendraSingh) July 15, 2025

Group Captain Shukla, a pilot with the Indian Air Force, has become only the second Indian to travel to space—following Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma’s historic flight in 1984—and the first Indian to visit the $150 billion International Space Station.

The landmark mission, arranged by private space firm Axiom Space in collaboration with NASA and ISRO, reportedly cost India around $70 million. Axiom Space stated that after spending approximately 433 hours in space—completing 18 days and 288 orbits around Earth, covering nearly 12.2 million kilometres—the Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) crew has officially begun its journey back home.