New Delhi: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday met Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla in Delhi, days after his return from NASA’s Axiom-4 mission. The meeting came shortly after Shukla also called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier this week.
Shukla, the first Indian astronaut to travel to the International Space Station (ISS), completed an 18-day mission in orbit between June 25 and July 15, 2025. The Axiom-4 mission, launched from Florida, included four astronauts – Shukla, Peggy Whitson (USA), Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski (Poland), and Tibor Kapu (Hungary). The crew conducted more than 60 scientific experiments and participated in 20 outreach sessions before returning safely to Earth.
Shukla arrived in India on Sunday to a hero’s welcome. His achievement has been widely celebrated as a milestone for the country’s space program and a source of inspiration for Indian youth.
Earlier this week, the Lok Sabha held a special discussion on Shukla’s historic mission. Speaker Om Birla described it as “a matter of pride and inspiration for every Indian,” while Union Minister Jitendra Singh lauded the astronaut’s discipline and dedication, calling him a “soldier of the Indian Air Force who belongs to no political party.”
The discussion, however, witnessed disruptions by the Opposition, drawing sharp criticism from Rajnath Singh. In a post on X, the Defence Minister said, “It was very unfortunate the way the Opposition created a ruckus in the House and did not allow it to function.”
Despite the political exchanges, Shukla’s achievement continues to be hailed as a defining moment in India’s space journey, aligning with the nation’s vision for a ‘Viksit Bharat’ by 2047.
