Try GOLD - Free
Shukla returns, Prez hails it as a ‘milestone for India’
Hindustan Times Noida
|July 16, 2025
SpaceX's Dragon Grace spacecraft splashed down in the calm waters of the Pacific Ocean off the west coast of the US at the end of a 22.5 hour journey from the International Space Station (ISS).
Inside were Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, only the second Indian to go to space, and the Indian to have spent most time there, and three of his Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission crew mates.
Shortly after Shukla, who was all smiles, was assisted out of the capsule onto the recovery vessel, Prime Minister Narenda Modi on X said, “I join the nation in welcoming Group Captain Shubhanshu Shuklaas he returns to Earth from his historic mission to Space. ‘As India's first astronaut to have visited (the) International Space Station, he has inspired a billion dreams through his dedication, courage and pioneering spirit. It marks another milestone towards our own Human Space Flight Mission - Gaganyaan.”
As per protocol, the crew underwent the first medical examination in SpaceX's recovery vessels. They will undergo about a week's rehabilitation programme under the supervision of flight surgeons to enable them to adapt back to Earth's gravity. After 20 days in space of which 18 days were spent living and working in the lower orbiting laboratory, the ‘Ax-4 crew tookin their first breath of fresh air.
On June 25, Falcon 9 rocket lifted off the spacecraft from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Centre in Florida. Itreached ISS on June 26 after a 28-hour journey. Shukla became the sec-
I don’t have words to express my happiness... we are very proud
ASHA SHUKLA, Shubhanshu Shukla’s mother
‘ond Indian astronaut in space since 1984, and the first in the country on ISS. Alongside Shukla, the Ax-4 mission marked the return to human spaceflight pro-gramme for India, Poland and Hungary in over four decades.
This story is from the July 16, 2025 edition of Hindustan Times Noida.
Subscribe to Magzter GOLD to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 10,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
MORE STORIES FROM Hindustan Times Noida

Hindustan Times Noida
Over 200 Maoists surrender in Bastar in a body blow to LWE
More than 200 Maoist cadres, including a Central Committee (CC) member, surrendered before authorities in Jagdalpur, the headquarters of Bastar district, on Friday, in what officials described as the largest mass surrenderin the history of anti-Naxal operations in the siate.
2 mins
October 18, 2025
Hindustan Times Noida
‘We Asians are proud of our ghosts’
On her writing process, trusting her translator completely, and the use of jump scares in her stories
2 mins
October 18, 2025
Hindustan Times Noida
Delhi has second highest parole jumpers in country
What the portal shows
2 mins
October 18, 2025

Hindustan Times Noida
Keep calm, party on
It’s event-tsunami season. Here’s how to host, party, dress up, and show up, without draining your social battery
4 mins
October 18, 2025
Hindustan Times Noida
Egypt eyes more investments, India's role in Suez Canal zone
‘Resolution of Palestinian issue key for stability’
2 mins
October 18, 2025
Hindustan Times Noida
This way to Patli Gali (false name!)
The Walled City dictionary
2 mins
October 18, 2025
Hindustan Times Noida
GLOBAL BANK STOCKS SLIDE AS AMERICAN CREDIT RISKS SPARK REALITY CHECK
Global financial stocks slid on Friday as a rout in US regional banking shares heightened concerns about credit quality and mounting risks in the sector.
1 min
October 18, 2025
Hindustan Times Noida
LABUSCHAGNE REPLACES GREEN IN AUSTRALIA ODI SQUAD VS INDIA
Marnus Labuschagne on Friday replaced injured all-rounder Cameron Green for the three match ODI series beginning here on Sunday.
1 min
October 18, 2025

Hindustan Times Noida
‘Understanding the past is important, not just to avoid mistakes, but to learn from successes’
Devesh Kapur and Arvind Subramanian’s book A Sixth of Humanity: Independent India’s Development Odyssey on India’s political economy will be released on October 24. Kapur (DK) is currently the Starr Foundation Professor of South Asian Studies at the Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International ‘Studies. Subramanian (AS) isa Senior Fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics and India’s former Chief Economic Adviser. Edited excerpts from an interview to Roshan Kishore on the book:
10 mins
October 18, 2025
Hindustan Times Noida
All that glitters
Your head-to-toe guide to what’s trending, what to skip, and how to remix your wardrobe so you look lit at every Diwali event
4 mins
October 18, 2025
Listen
Translate
Change font size