'Inspired a billion dreams': PM Modi hails Shubhanshu Shukla's 'courage', terms his mission a milestone after splashdown

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday hailed Shubhanshu Shukla as the astronaut made splashdown early Tuesday at San Diego coast (local time).

"I join the nation in welcoming Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla as he returns to Earth from his historic mission to Space. As India’s first astronaut to have visited International Space Station, he has inspired a billion dreams through his dedication, courage and pioneering spirit," said the PM in a post on X.

Further expressing hope for future space missions, he added, "It marks another milestone towards our own Human Space Flight Mission - Gaganyaan."


Soon after the splashdown, Union MoS (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology and Space, Jitendra Singh also hailed the achievement, saying, "It is indeed a moment of pride for the world and a moment of glory for India because one of her sons is coming back with a successful voyage."

Shukla has returned to Earth safely with Grace — the Dragon capsule the Axiom-4 crew members were travelling in — splashing down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego in Southern California.

Grace undocked from the International Space Station (ISS) at 4.45pm (IST) on Monday. The spacecraft carried more than 580 tonnes of cargo, including over 60 experiments, during its 22.5-hour journey back to Earth.