'Welcome Back': Adityanath, Akhilesh hail Shukla's return after historic space mission

Political leaders in Uttar Pradesh congratulated Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla on Tuesday on his successful return to Earth after completing the Axiom-4 mission, calling it a moment of pride for the country and an inspiration for youngsters.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath led the tributes, calling Shukla's achievement "a glorious symbol of courage, dedication and commitment to science".

"Welcome back to Earth! Heartfelt congratulations to Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla and his team on the successful completion of the historic #AxiomMission4," Adityanath said in a post on X. "Every Indian, especially the people of Uttar Pradesh, is proud today. India awaits your return with great excitement," he added.

Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav expressed happiness over Shukla's safe return from space and congratulated his parents, family and countrymen.

"This mission will prove to be a milestone in the field of Indian space science. All Indians are proud of Shubhanshu Shukla," Yadav said. He added that after Shukla left for the space station, he had met his family members at Lucknow's Triveni Nagar.

"This historic achievement is a matter of pride for the family and the countrymen," Yadav said in a statement shared by his party.

Uttar Pradesh BJP chief Bhupendra Singh Chaudhary described Shukla's feat as a matter of "motivation for all people of the country".

The state unit of the Congress also took to social media, saying Shukla's achievement has made all Indians proud and their heads are held high.

Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya described Shukla's return as "Shubhanshu's auspicious homecoming".

"Having touched the heights of space, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla has brought immense pride to both the state and the country. His achievement will inspire millions of youngsters and give wings to their dreams," Maurya said in a post in Hindi on X.

Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) president Mayawati also extended her congratulations, saying, "The news of India's Shubhanshu Shukla returning safely after conducting several studies in space is not only encouraging for youth but also uplifting for the entire nation. Heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to Shukla, originally from Lucknow, his family, and all space scientists and institutions behind this success. Such experiences will certainly benefit crores of people in the country."

Shukla and three other astronauts aboard the Dragon "Grace" capsule made a safe splashdown off the coast of San Diego in California on Tuesday, concluding a 22.5-hour return journey from the International Space Station (ISS).

Launched on June 25 aboard SpaceX's Falcon-9 rocket, the crew had docked with the ISS on June 26. Over an 18-day stay in orbit, Shukla completed more than 310 orbits and covered approximately 13 million kilometres. He conducted seven microgravity experiments assigned by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), ranging from muscle regeneration and radiation effects to studies on algae, crop resilience and human physiology -- vital research for India's upcoming Gaganyaan human-spaceflight mission.

A native of Lucknow, Shukla's success has stirred a wave of pride across India, especially in Uttar Pradesh and its capital, with his family, friends and commoners hailing the mission as a landmark moment in the country's space programme.