August 26, 2025

A new star is rising in space! IAF Group Captain and astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla believes that soon people around the world will talk more about ISRO than NASA. India’s space journey is zooming forward with great energy, and Shukla’s recent trip to the International Space Station (ISS) is a shining example of this excitement. Following his safe return, Shukla was welcomed with open arms in his hometown Lucknow. "Since I landed in Lucknow around 7:30 this morning, I must have clicked about 2,000 selfies," he shared with a big smile. The famous local phrase, 'Muskuraiye, Aap Lucknow Mein Hain' (Smile, you're in Lucknow), truly came alive for him that day. The grand felicitation was held at the residence of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, with top leaders like Deputy Chief Ministers Keshav Prasad Maurya and Brajesh Pathak, BJP state president Bhupendra Chaudhary, and ISRO Chairman V Narayanan joining the celebrations. Shukla’s family – wife Kamna, mother Asha, and father Shambhu Shukla – also shared in the proud moment. Reflecting on his unforgettable 18-day mission, Shukla said, "The excitement I felt in Delhi on landing was doubled when I came home to Lucknow. I am deeply grateful for the love and pride the people have shown towards me." During his space journey, he and his team conducted 60 special scientific experiments on the ISS. Among them, seven were designed by Indian scientists, marking an important milestone. "The proudest moment was performing experiments created by our scientists. For the first time, they got the opportunity to conduct microgravity research," he explained. This mission has opened new doors for India’s future space research. What’s more inspiring? Shukla had heartwarming interactions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and spoke with children on three occasions. "Each time, they asked how they could become astronauts. One of the biggest achievements of this mission is that the younger generation now not only aspires to go to space, but believes that they can do it,” he proudly revealed. National Space Day, celebrated on August 23, may be only two years old, but the passion for space missions in India is already sky-high. As Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya put it, "The day is not far when people will speak of ISRO over NASA." Shukla agrees and says, "I believe this is not a dream, but a reality waiting to happen." So, are we ready to watch ISRO take its rightful place among the stars? Absolutely!

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Tags: Isro, Nasa, Shubhanshu shukla, Space exploration, International space station, India space mission,