Shubhanshu Shukla happy and healthy after coming back from ISS: ISRO chief
text_fields
In a defining achievement for India’s space program, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla has safely returned from the International Space Station (ISS), becoming the first Indian to complete a mission aboard the orbiting laboratory.
The mission is being celebrated as a significant milestone on the path to India’s ambitious Gaganyaan human spaceflight initiative.
ISRO Chairman Dr V Narayanan confirmed the successful completion of the mission and assured the nation about the astronaut’s well-being. “His medical parameters are being continuously monitored, and the information available to me from the doctors is very reassuring,” Dr Narayanan told NDTV.
Describing the mission as “highly successful” and “fully satisfying,” Dr Narayanan emphasised that Group Captain Shukla is “totally healthy and totally happy” after the splashdown. “We sent Shukla ji to space very safely and brought him back safely. The entire country is happy because we are getting good input for our Gaganyaan programme,” he stated.
The Prime Minister acknowledged the importance of the feat through a Cabinet Resolution and a statement in Parliament before the budget session, highlighting its broader impact on India’s space ambitions.
The experience of sending a human into space posed unique challenges for ISRO, distinct from its previous satellite missions. Dr Narayanan explained, “The new thing is the human interface with the rocket system. That's why we are extremely happy that we could send him safely, bring him back safely, and gather valuable input.”
Insights gained from this mission are expected to significantly contribute to the development of the Gaganyaan project, which aims to send Indian astronauts into low Earth orbit by 2027. Group Captain Shukla’s time aboard the ISS has provided vital data on health, life support systems, and operational procedures in a microgravity environment.
India now joins a select group of countries with the capability to participate in human spaceflight and international collaborations in outer space. This success is also seen as a precursor to India’s ambitions in lunar and planetary exploration.
