Shubhagaman! Dragon capsule splashdown brings tears of joy to Shubhanshu Shukla’s kin; nation rejoices

NEW DELHI: Emotions ran high in Lucknow as IAF Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, India’s second astronaut in space, safely returned to Earth on Tuesday aboard the Dragon spacecraft.His 18-day stay aboard the International Space Station (ISS) as part of the historic Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission concluded with a successful splashdown off the coast of San Diego, California.As the capsule, named ‘Grace’, made its descent, Shukla’s family back in Lucknow clapped with tears in their eyes, proudly waving the Indian flag.

The moment was filled with pride, joy, and reverence, as prayers turned to celebration.

His parents, visibly emotional, described it as a "Shubhagaman" — a blessed return."My son has safely returned. I thank god, you all who have covered the event. I got emotional. After all, my son has returned after many days," said Shubhanshu Shukla's mother Asha Shukla.Prime Minister Narendra Modi warmly welcomed Shukla back to Earth, hailing his return from the International Space Station as a proud and historic moment for the nation.

In his statement, Modi lauded Shukla as India’s first astronaut to visit the ISS, praising his courage, dedication, and pioneering spirit that has ignited the imagination of a billion Indians.

Union minister Dr Jitendra Singh too hailed the achievement, saying: "Bharat today has truly found an enduring space in the world of Space. It is a moment of glory for India as one of our illustrious sons returns after completing a successful voyage."Ahead of the landing, the Shukla family had offered prayers and began preparations to welcome their son home with reverence and celebration. Their joy echoed the sentiments of a proud nation witnessing another leap in India’s human spaceflight journey.The Dragon capsule undocked from the ISS on Monday evening (IST) and began its 22.5-hour return journey. The de-orbit burn was executed at 2:07 PM IST, followed by trunk separation and fiery re-entry through Earth’s atmosphere, enduring temperatures over 1,600°C.

The final descent saw the deployment of parachutes before the capsule safely splashed down.Shukla's return marks a historic milestone, making him the first Indian astronaut to visit the International Space Station. Over the 20-day mission, he completed more than 310 orbits, covering a staggering 1.3 crore kilometers — the equivalent of circling Earth 33 times or a round trip to the Moon and back. The Ax-4 crew also witnessed over 300 sunrises and sunsets, a surreal spectacle in low-Earth orbit.