 "'Spent sleepless nights...': Shubhanshu Shukla back safe, Isro chief says Gaganyan next")
India is buzzing with pride as astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla and his three crewmates safely returned to Earth on Tuesday (July 15), a moment Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chairman V. Narayanan called “big” for the country.
Reflecting on the mission’s rocky start, Narayanan admitted to Network 18 that a liquid oxygen leak in the Falcon 9 rocket kept him up at night. I “spent sleepless nights" when the leak hit the vehicle, he said.
“It’s a big moment for India. I spent sleepless nights when there was a leak in the vehicle," he said.
When asked how Shukla’s mission boosts India’s space programme, Narayanan explained that it’s a big step forward.
Narayanan also shared that the Axiom-4 mission has provided key insights for India’s Gaganyaan program. He added that they have gained a lot of input that will help them advance in areas like space research, health, and more, highlighting the mission’s broader impact on India’s space ambitions.
Shukla and his Axiom-4 team splashed down off the California coast at 3:01 pm IST on Tuesday, wrapping up nearly three weeks in space.
The Dragon spacecraft, carrying the crew, undocked from the International Space Station (ISS) on Monday after an 18-day mission.
The Axiom-4 mission, which took four astronauts to the ISS, faced multiple delays due to rocket issues.
Impact Shorts
View AllA liquid oxygen leak was found during pre-launch checks, and while SpaceX initially thought they could fix it quickly, they ultimately postponed the launch to ensure proper repairs.
On June 25, Shukla, along with Commander Peggy Whitson, Mission Specialist Slawosz “Suave” Uznanski-Wisniewski, and Tibor Kapu, finally blasted off from Florida.
Shukla’s journey is a historic milestone—he’s the first Indian to visit the ISS and the second Indian in space, following Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma’s 1984 flight.
His mission has cemented India’s growing presence in the global space race, and the nation is celebrating its latest space hero.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Shukla upon his safe return, saying he has inspired “a billion dreams through his dedication, courage and pioneering spirit”.
“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. It marks another milestone towards our own Human Space Flight Mission - Gaganyaan,” Modi wrote on X.
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