Indian Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla Returns from Historic ISS Mission

Shubhanshu Shukla Completes 18-Day Journey to ISS

On July 15, 2025, at 3:00 PM IST, astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla concluded his remarkable 18-day mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and safely returned to Earth. The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft landed in San Diego, California, carrying all the astronauts back home. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his joy over Shukla's successful return, stating on social media, 'I welcome Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla back to India, who is returning from his historic space mission. As the first Indian astronaut to visit the ISS, he has inspired millions with his dedication, courage, and pioneering spirit.'

A Milestone for India's Gaganyaan Mission

PM Modi highlighted that this achievement marks another significant milestone towards India's own human spaceflight initiative, Gaganyaan. Earlier, on June 28, the Prime Minister had a conversation with Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla. Alongside Shukla, three other astronauts—Peggy Whitson from the USA, Sławoj Użnanowski-Wiśniewski from Poland, and Tibor Kapp from Hungary—successfully landed in the Pacific Ocean near California at 3:00 PM IST (4:30 AM CT). The crew had boarded the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft 'Grace' at 2:00 PM IST on July 14 and separated from the ISS's Harmony module at 4:45 PM.