Saralnama
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, India's first astronaut to travel to the International Space Station (ISS), is returning to his hometown Lucknow on August 25, 2025. Shukla flew as mission pilot on the Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4), marking a significant milestone in India's human spaceflight efforts ahead of the Gaganyaan mission. His safe return on July 15, 2025, was celebrated nationwide, including by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other dignitaries. Lucknow is being decorated to welcome him back as a hero. Shukla's journey from an Indian Air Force test pilot to astronaut involved rigorous training in Russia and India. His mission contributed valuable experience and experiments supporting India's ambitions for independent human spaceflight and future space stations. The event symbolizes national pride and progress in India's space exploration program. (Updated 25 Aug 2025, 05:20 IST; source: link)