India’s Glory Soars As Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla Returns After Historic Space Mission

On 15th July, India etched a historic moment in space exploration as Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla returned from an 18-day mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS). His splashdown in the Pacific Ocean near California was nothing short of cinematic. Just four minutes before splashdown, the Dragon capsule deployed its drogue parachutes, slowing down from 190 km/h at 5 km altitude. Then at 3:10 AM IST, the spacecraft gently touched the sea surface, safely concluding Shubhanshu Shukla’s trailblazing journey.This mission, a collaboration between NASA and SpaceX, marked the first time an Indian pilot aboard the ISS clicked direct visuals of Earth from the Cupola module, capturing stunning satellite-free images of the subcontinent. He carried familiar Indian food like moong halwa, mango pulp, dry fruits, and even shared space meals with the international crew.Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded his bravery, saying, “Shubhanshu’s courage and dedication have ignited dreams for future generations.” His mission contributes to India’s bigger goal: sending humans to space by 2027, establishing a space station by 2035, and attempting a manned Moon mission by 2040.As Shubhanshu Shukla stepped out of the capsule with a smile and a wave, India saluted a son who truly touched the sky.