NEW DELHI: As the Indian astronaut and Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla prepares to return to Earth on July 15, after an 18-day stay aboard the International Space Station (ISS), political leaders across the spectrum, from Shiv Sena (UBT) to the BJP, have hailed the moment as a proud milestone for the country as well as its space ambitions.
Shukla’s participation in the Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) made him the first Indian astronaut in 41 years to reach the ISS. His return journey will begin with undocking from the space station at 4:30 PM IST on July 14, with a scheduled splashdown in the Pacific Ocean off the California coast around 3:00 PM IST on July 15.
Speaking to IANS, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Anand Dubey called it a “moment of immense pride” for the nation.