First Indian Astronaut's Historic Return from ISS Marks New Era in Space Exploration

Sat Oct 18 2025 08:04:58 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla heads back to Earth after making history as India's first crew member aboard the ISS.

Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the first Indian astronaut to reach the International Space Station, is returning to Earth after his inspiring mission aboard Axiom Space's Ax-4. The live stream captured the moment when the crew undocked from the ISS, setting the stage for a splashdown off the coast of California. The landmark journey symbolizes India's burgeoning role in space exploration and ambition for future missions.

Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, a notable figure in Indian space exploration as the first Indian to board the International Space Station (ISS), has embarked on his return journey to Earth from the Ax-4 mission. The spacecraft undocked from the ISS live on Monday, with a planned splashdown near California due in approximately 24 hours. Axiom Space, the private operator behind the mission, highlighted the diverse crew, which included astronauts from Poland and Hungary.

Shukla, who was previously only the second Indian to venture into space after Rakesh Sharma, has articulated a hopeful outlook for India's future in space exploration. His training and experiences during the Ax-4 mission, which extended a few days longer than initially intended, are expected to bolster India's ambitious goals, including plans for its first human space flight, Gaganyaan, in 2027.

In his farewell message from the ISS, Shukla reflected fondly on his adventure and emphasized the possibilities that lie ahead for India. "Even though now it is coming to an end... if we are determined, even the stars are attainable," he stated. The entire mission has seen the execution of numerous scientific experiments, further enriching India's footprint in the global space community.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) supported Shukla's participation in the mission and views his experience as crucial for the success of future endeavours, including a lunar mission targeted for 2040 and the establishment of a space station by 2035. As Shukla's transformative journey continues, the nation looks onward to a promising horizon in space exploration.