Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the pilot of NASA's Axiom-4 Space Mission to the International Space Station (ISS), returned to India and was welcomed by Union Minister of State for Science and Technology Dr. Jitendra Singh and Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta at the Indira Gandhi International Airport. The mission, launched from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida aboard the Falcon 9 vehicle and Crew Dragon spacecraft, was described by Shukla as highly successful, achieving all technical objectives and providing invaluable knowledge beyond training. Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Shukla to discuss his space experiences, India's progress in science and technology, and the country's ambitious Gaganyaan mission. Modi emphasized the need to develop a large pool of 40-50 astronauts to support future space programs. ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan highlighted the exponential progress in India's space missions over the past decade, including the recent successful launch of the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar satellite aboard the GSLV-F16 rocket. Shukla expressed gratitude to the Indian government, ISRO, and his colleagues, noting the pride in India's achievements in space. He also met with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh during his visit. The mission and Shukla's return have been widely acknowledged as a proud moment for India, with political leaders and space officials recognizing the importance of his contributions to the country's space endeavors.