PM Modi Meets Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla After Historic Space Mission
New Delhi, 18th August 2025: Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Lucknow-born astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla in Delhi on Monday evening, congratulating him for his 18-day mission to the International Space Station under the Axiom-4 mission. The meeting lasted around 20 minutes, during which PM Modi shook hands, hugged Shubhanshu, and praised him for his achievement. Shubhanshu also shared pictures of Earth and the galaxy taken from space on a tablet and presented the Prime Minister with the mission patch and the Indian tricolor he carried to space.
Shubhanshu returned to India from the United States late Saturday night. He was welcomed at Delhi airport by Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, and his family, including his father Shambhu Dayal Shukla, mother Asha Shukla, wife Kamna, son Kiash, and sister Shuchi Mishra. Shubhanshu’s father said the astronaut is expected to visit Lucknow on August 25 for a grand homecoming.
During the meeting, PM Modi inquired about Shubhanshu’s experiences in space, the experiments he conducted, the challenges of living in zero gravity, and the upcoming Gaganyaan mission. Shubhanshu explained the duration and nature of his experiments, highlighting the difficulties and learnings of space life.
Shubhanshu’s space journey was also discussed in the Lok Sabha, where Speaker Om Birla called for a special discussion on the astronaut. Union Minister Jitendra Singh expressed disappointment over opposition MPs disrupting the proceedings and emphasized that the astronaut’s achievement transcends political divisions.
Sharing his emotions after returning, Shubhanshu wrote that leaving his colleagues in space was bittersweet, but he is excited to reunite with his family and countrymen. “The love and support I received during and after the mission have been incredible. I am eager to share my experiences with the nation,” he said.
Shubhanshu’s mother, Asha Shukla, expressed her joy and pride, stating, “I will hug my son and give him lots of love and affection. This is a proud moment not just for our family, but for the entire country.”
The astronaut is scheduled to hold a press conference in Delhi on August 21, where he will share insights from his space mission. A grand welcome rally and felicitation ceremony will be held in Lucknow on August 25, with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath invited to attend.
Shubhanshu left India for the mission in June 2024, underwent months of training at ISRO and in the United States, and successfully completed the Axiom-4 mission, returning safely to Earth on July 15 after 18 days in orbit.
