Modi welcomed Shukla, who was wearing an ISRO astronaut's jacket, with a warm hug and walked with him with his arm on the astronaut's shoulder
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla gifted PM Modi the mission patch of the Axiom-4 mission. Pic/PTI
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday met Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla who became the first Indian astronaut to travel to the International Space Station (ISS).
Shukla, who was part of the Axiom-4 commercial mission to the ISS from June 25-July 15, met the prime minister at his Lok Kalyan Marg residence.
Modi welcomed Shukla, who was wearing an ISRO astronaut's jacket, with a warm hug and walked with him with his arm on the astronaut's shoulder.
Shukla also gifted the prime minister the mission patch of the Axiom-4 mission.
Hon’ble PM Shri @narendramodi ji met Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the proud Indian pilot of the historic Axiom-4 Space Mission to the International Space Station (ISS). A moment celebrating India’s growing strength in space exploration and the vision of #ViksitBharat2047.… pic.twitter.com/DYf33HQdy0
— Dr Jitendra Singh (@DrJitendraSingh) August 18, 2025
The Lucknow-born astronaut also shared pictures he had taken from the ISS with Modi.
Shukla was part of the Axiom-4 private space mission that lifted off from Florida on June 25 and docked at the International Space Station on June 26. He returned to Earth on 15 July.
Shukla returned to India on Sunday.
Along with three other astronauts -- Peggy Whitson (US), Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski (Poland), and Tibor Kapu (Hungary) -- Shukla conducted over 60 experiments and 20 outreach sessions during the 18-day mission.
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