PM Modi Meets Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, India’s ISS Hero

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday met Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the first Indian astronaut to travel to the International Space Station (ISS). The meeting took place at the Prime Minister’s official residence, Lok Kalyan Marg, where Shukla was given a warm welcome.

Shubhanshu Shukla recently returned to India after successfully completing his mission as part of the Axiom-4 commercial space mission. The mission, which launched from Florida on June 25 and docked with the ISS on June 26, lasted 18 days. Shukla, along with three other astronauts from the United States, Poland, and Hungary, carried out over 60 scientific experiments and conducted 20 outreach programs during the mission.

During their meeting, Shukla gifted the Prime Minister the official Axiom-4 mission patch and shared breathtaking pictures of Earth that he had captured from space. The Prime Minister praised his achievements, describing him as a source of pride and inspiration for the nation.

“Had a great interaction with Shubhanshu Shukla. We discussed his space experiences, India’s progress in science and technology, and the ambitious Gaganyaan mission. India is proud of his feat,” the Prime Minister wrote on social media.

The government also organized a special Lok Sabha discussion on Shukla’s achievement, focusing on the theme “India’s first astronaut aboard the ISS – Critical role of the space programme for Viksit Bharat by 2047.” While opposition members did not participate, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor lauded Shukla, calling his journey a symbol of India’s space ambitions and a source of inspiration for future generations to pursue careers in STEM fields.

Born in Lucknow, Shukla’s journey has become a motivating force for students across the country. His historic mission is seen as a stepping stone towards India’s upcoming Gaganyaan human spaceflight program, which aims to put Indian astronauts into space aboard an indigenous spacecraft.

This achievement marks a new chapter in India’s global space journey and highlights the country’s growing role in international space collaborations.