Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla returns to India after Axiom-4 mission to the ISS
In the early hours of 17 August 2025, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla returned to India after the Axiom-4 mission to the International Space Station and was received at Delhi airport by Union Minister Jitendra Singh, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan.
Summary
Astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla arrived at Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi, in the early hours of 17 August 2025, after his visit to the International Space Station (ISS) on the Axiom-4 private space mission. He was received by Union Minister Jitendra Singh, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan. His backup astronaut for the mission, Group Captain Prashanth Balakrishnan Nair, also returned. Axiom-4 lifted off from Florida on 25 June, docked at the ISS on 26 June, and Shukla returned to Earth on 15 July.
Key facts
- Arrived
- Early 17 Aug 2025, IGI Airport, New Delhi
- Mission
- Axiom-4 (Ax-4) to the ISS
- Received by
- Jitendra Singh, Rekha Gupta, ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan
- Backup astronaut
- Gp Capt Prashanth Balakrishnan Nair
- Mission dates
- Lift-off 25 June; docked 26 June; returned to Earth 15 July 2025
Practice MCQs 3 questions
Shubhanshu Shukla, who returned to India on 17 August 2025, visited the International Space Station as part of which mission?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — Axiom-4
Axiom-4, a private space mission that lifted off from Florida on 25 June 2025.
Which Gaganyaan astronaut, Shubhanshu Shukla's backup for the Axiom-4 mission, also returned to India with him on 17 August 2025?
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Correct answer: C — Prashanth Balakrishnan Nair
Group Captain Prashanth Balakrishnan Nair, the designated backup for the mission.
Consider the following statements about Shubhanshu Shukla's return to India on 17 August 2025: 1. The Axiom-4 mission had lifted off from Florida on 25 June 2025. 2. He was received at Delhi airport by ISRO Chairman S. Somanath. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
Only 1 is correct. ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan received him at the airport, along with Jitendra Singh and Rekha Gupta.