‘Nation Proud Of Your Son’: Rajnath To Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla’s Father Shambhu Dayal

Last Updated:July 15, 2025, 16:40 IST

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said Shubhanshu Shukla’s feat “lifted India’s aspirations to new heights”.

Rajnath Singh, the Indian defence minister, wished astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla great success in his future endeavours. (IMAGE: NEWS18)

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday spoke to Shambhu Dayal Shukla, father of astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla and told him that his son has made the nation proud, sources speaking to News18 said.

Singh said Shukla’s mission is “a proud stride for India’s growing space ambitions".

“Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla’s successful return from the historic Axiom-4 mission is a proud moment for every Indian. He has not just touched space, he has lifted India’s aspirations to new heights. His journey to the International Space Station and back is not just a personal milestone, it is a proud stride for India’s growing space ambitions. Wishing him great success in his future endeavours," he further added in a separate social media post on X.

Shukla’s father Shambhu Dayal Shukla said that he is waiting for his son to return to Lucknow. He and his wife Asha Shukla attended the live webcast of the splashdown.

Their son’s 18-day space sojourn carried with it more than just scientific data and seed samples. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that Shukla’s feat “inspired a billion dreams" in a social media post posted shortly after the astronauts landed.

Group Captain Shukla, a 39-year-old Indian Air Force officer and test pilot, completed his maiden space voyage as part of the Axiom-4 mission, a commercial spaceflight supported by ISRO and NASA and operated by Axiom Space.

Accompanying him was mission commander, Peggy Whitson and Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski, 41, of Poland, and Tibor Kapu, 33, of Hungary.

Director of human spaceflight for Axiom, Whitson has now logged 695 days in space, a US record, during three previous NASA missions, a fourth flight to orbit as commander of the Axiom-2 crew in 2023 and her fifth mission to the ISS commanding Axiom-4.

Shankhyaneel Sarkar

Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev...Read More

Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev...

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