After weeks of rehabilitation in the US following his space mission, Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla on Saturday announced that he will be returning to India on Sunday.
Shukla, who became the first Indian to reach the International Space Station (ISS) in June, shared an emotional note on Instagram before boarding his flight.
“As I sit on the plane to come back to India, I have a mix of emotions running through my heart. I feel sad leaving behind a fantastic group of people who were my friends and family for the past one year during this mission,” he wrote.
At the same time, he said he was excited to meet his family and friends back home. “I guess this is what life is — everything all at once,” he added.
Shukla returned from the ISS on July 15 after an 18-day mission that included several experiments led by ISRO. Since then, he has been undergoing post-mission rehabilitation in the US.
He said he was eager to share his experiences, which he believes will be crucial for India’s upcoming human spaceflight programme ‘Gaganyaan’, scheduled for launch in 2027.
Reflecting on his time in space, Shukla recalled advice from his commander, NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson: “The only constant in spaceflight is change.” He also shared lines from the film ‘Swades’— “Yun hi chala chal rahi — jeevan gaadi hai, samay pahiya” — which he said applied to life as well.
Back home, his family is waiting for him. “We are very excited that my son is coming back. We will meet him in Delhi,” said his father, Shambhu Dayal Shukla.
Union Minister Jitendra Singh said the IAF Group Captain will first meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi before traveling to Lucknow to be with his family.
In his Independence Day address, the Prime Minister praised Shukla’s achievement, saying the astronaut had “inspired a billion dreams” and given a boost to India’s space ambitions.
IANS