Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla made history on Tuesday as he returned to Earth after becoming the first Indian to visit the International Space Station (ISS) in nearly four decades [1][2].

Splashing down off the coast of San Diego, California, Shukla concluded an 18-day mission aboard the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, marking a significant milestone for India's space exploration efforts [8][13].

Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated Shukla's achievement, stating he has "inspired a billion dreams with his dedication, courage and pioneering spirit" [1][9]. The mission was part of the Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission, which included astronauts from the United States, Poland, and Hungary [14].

ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan highlighted the mission's importance, noting that Shukla's experience will be "extremely valuable for the Gaganyaan programme" - India's upcoming human spaceflight mission [15].

During his time on the ISS, Shukla conducted over 60 scientific experiments, including seven designed by Indian research institutions [11]. His mission represents a critical step in India's growing space exploration capabilities.

Dignitaries across India celebrated the achievement. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh remarked that Shukla "has not just touched space, but lifted India's aspirations to new heights" [7].

The mission cost approximately ₹550 crore and was a collaborative effort between ISRO, NASA, Axiom Space, and SpaceX [6]. Shukla becomes only the second Indian to travel to space, following Rakesh Sharma's 1984 mission [26].