Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla Calls on PM Modi, Presents Axiom-4 Mission Patch

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday met astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, pilot of the Axiom-4 Space Mission to the International Space Station (ISS), at his residence on Lok Kalyan Marg in Delhi.

Modi welcomed Shukla with a warm embrace, walking alongside him with his arm around the astronaut’s shoulder. Shukla, dressed in an ISRO astronaut’s jacket, presented the Prime Minister with the Axiom-4 mission patch and shared photographs of Earth captured from the ISS.

“Had a great interaction with Shubhanshu Shukla. We discussed a wide range of subjects including his experiences in space, progress in science & technology as well as India’s ambitious Gaganyaan mission. India is proud of his feat,” Modi posted on X.

Shukla, who became the second Indian to travel to space during the Axiom-4 mission, returned to India on Sunday to a rousing welcome at Delhi airport. He was received by Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, Union Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh, ISRO Chairman Dr. V. Narayanan, and other dignitaries.

PM Modi had earlier hailed Shukla’s achievement in his Independence Day address, calling the spaceflight a historic milestone for the nation.