PM Modi hailed IAF Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla’s historic ISS mission, calling it a milestone in India’s space journey. Shukla, the first Indian to reach the space station, shared his experiences with PM Modi as India prepares for its Gaganyaan human spaceflight programme and future space ambitions.
In a moment of national pride, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday met with Indian Air Force (IAF) Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the first Indian to embark on a mission to the International Space Station (ISS). The meeting, held at the Prime Minister’s official residence in New Delhi, was marked by warmth, recognition, and discussions on India’s growing space ambitions.
Shukla, who returned to India early Sunday after an 18-day mission aboard the ISS, briefed the Prime Minister about his experiences in orbit. He shared rare photographs clicked from space and elaborated on scientific experiments and operational tasks that he carried out during the mission. These discussions, officials said, are likely to play a significant role in shaping India’s upcoming Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission, scheduled to be one of the country’s most ambitious projects in space exploration.
Prime Minister Modi expressed deep appreciation for the historic achievement, calling it a milestone for India’s space journey. “Had a great interaction with Shubhanshu Shukla. We discussed a wide range of subjects, including his experiences in space, progress in science and technology, as well as India’s ambitious Gaganyaan mission. India is proud of his feat,” Modi wrote on social media platform X after their meeting.
A Historic First for India
In June, Group Captain Shukla created history by becoming the first Indian to reach the International Space Station as part of the Ax-4 mission, a collaborative international effort. His journey was not only symbolic but also practical—he contributed to several scientific experiments designed by ISRO and partner institutions, providing crucial data for space medicine, material sciences, and life-support technologies.
After nearly three weeks in space, Shukla returned to Earth on July 15 and underwent rehabilitation in the United States to recover from the physical effects of microgravity. His return to India was celebrated as a homecoming of national pride, with Parliament and citizens across the country hailing his achievement.
National Recognition
On the same day as his meeting with the Prime Minister, Shukla was honoured in Parliament. The session, led by Union Minister of State for Science and Technology Dr. Jitendra Singh, underscored the broader implications of Shukla’s space mission for India’s future. “Group Captain Shukla’s feat is a new chapter in India’s space exploration. It not only advances indigenous science and technology but also inspires an entire generation to dream bigger in the fields of space and science,” Singh said.
Parliament described his achievement as “a source of immense national pride,” although the session was partially overshadowed by an opposition boycott. Despite the political tensions, the recognition of Shukla’s mission cut across party lines, with widespread acknowledgment of its significance for India’s global standing in space research and exploration.
PM Modi’s Independence Day Tribute
Shukla’s mission was also a highlight of Prime Minister Modi’s Independence Day address. From the Red Fort, the Prime Minister praised the astronaut’s journey, calling it “an inspiration for a billion dreams.” Modi emphasized that India’s achievements in space were not just about exploration but also about self-reliance, innovation, and global leadership.
“IAF Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is back from the International Space Station. Soon he will return to India. We are working on becoming self-reliant in the space sector, preparing for the launch of Gaganyaan, which is India’s flagship human spaceflight programme. We will make our own space station,” the Prime Minister said.
Looking Ahead: Gaganyaan and Beyond
The Ax-4 mission, in which Shukla played a key role, has provided India with invaluable operational knowledge and hands-on human spaceflight experience, which will directly aid ISRO in executing the Gaganyaan programme. India plans to send its first set of astronauts into space on an indigenous spacecraft in the coming years, an effort that would place the country among a select group of nations capable of human spaceflight.
Experts believe that Shukla’s experience aboard the ISS will help India fine-tune its strategies for astronaut training, long-duration space travel, and international collaboration. Beyond Gaganyaan, India also has its eyes set on establishing its own space station, as reiterated by the Prime Minister.
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For millions of Indians, Shukla’s journey has been more than a scientific mission—it has been a story of national aspiration, determination, and the pursuit of excellence. His successful mission has brought India closer to realizing its long-term goals in human spaceflight, while also igniting curiosity and ambition in the next generation of scientists, engineers, and dreamers.
As India continues to aim higher in the skies, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla’s legacy will be remembered as a defining moment in the country’s space journey.
