‘Soon, we will see an Indian going into space, on Indian capsule in Indian rocket from Indian soil’: Group Captain Shukla

LUCKNOW: Group Captain Shubanshu Shukla on Monday said that it will be a huge moment for the country, the day an Indian on an indigenous space capsule travels to space from the country’s soil.

Shubhanshu Shukla recently completed the historic mission to the International Space Station as part of the crew in the Axiom 4 Mission.

Speaking to reporters in UP’s capital after meeting with CM Yogi Adityanath, Group Captain Shukla said, “Like I said, I consider this the golden period in our journey of space exploration. Soon, the day when we will see an Indian going into space, on an Indian capsule, taking off in an Indian rocket from Indian soil. I think that would be a huge moment for us as India will become the fourth country in the world which will have these capabilities.”

#WATCH | Lucknow, UP: “Since 7.30-8 am this morning, after I reached Lucknow, I think I must have posed for over 2000 selfies. I understood the meaning of ‘muskuraiye, aap Lucknow mein hain’ today,” says IAF Group Captain and astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla on a lighter note, at a… pic.twitter.com/Maor0vf2MT

— ANI (@ANI) August 25, 2025

Earlier, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath met Group Captain Shubanshu Shukla, who recently completed the historic mission to the International Space Station as part of the crew in the Axiom 4 Mission.

#WATCH | Lucknow: After meeting with Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath, IAF Group Captain and astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla says, “I had not expected the kind of excitement that I have seen. I am truly overwhelmed. It feels good to be back home. I am delighted with the love and… pic.twitter.com/5f5U7FH2Ea

— ANI (@ANI) August 25, 2025

In a post on X, UP Chief Minister Office wrote, “Today, at UP CM Yogi Adityanath’s official residence in Lucknow, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla ji, the son of the nation, astronaut, and Group Captain, paid a courtesy visit after the successful operation of the historic Axiom4 mission and his safe return from the International Space Station.”

#WATCH | Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath felicitates IAF Group Captain and astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, and presents him with mementoes. pic.twitter.com/L7hBquJ80K

— ANI (@ANI) August 25, 2025

Group Captain Shukla also attended the felicitation ceremony at his alma mater, City Montessori School in Gomtinagar.

Shukla, who returned to Earth on July 15 after completing NASA’s Axiom-4 (AX-4) space mission, landed in Delhi on August 17. He was a part of NASA’s Axiom-4 Space Mission, which took off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre in Florida, US, on June 25. He became the first Indian in 41 years to travel to space. (ANI)