NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday extended a hearty welcome to Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla on his return to Earth after a successful 18-day stay at the International Space Station (ISS), saying “as India’s first astronaut to have visited ISS, Shukla has inspired a billion dreams with his dedication, courage and pioneering spirit”.“I join the nation in welcoming Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla as he returns to Earth from his historic mission to Space. It marks another milestone towards our own Human Space Flight Mission — Gaganyaan,” the PM posted on X.When Shukla had talked to Modi from ISS some days back, the PM advised him to learn as much as possible during the Axiom-4 mission, so that the experience could be used for the Gagayaan mission. Shukla had conducted seven Isro-specific microgravity experiments and several others with the Axiom-4 mission crew members.It was Modi who laid the foundation for India’s first trip to ISS, after he met then US President Joe Biden in the White House during a state visit in 2024, with the two countries subsequently collaborating to send an Indian astronaut to the orbital station as part of Axiom-4 mission. During that visit, India also signed the Artemis Accords, an initiative undertaken by Nasa to return humans to the Moon.Earlier, it was PM Modi who gave the astronaut wings to Group Captain Shukla and three other IAF pilots — Group Captain Prashanth Balakrishnan, Group Captain Ajith Krishnan, Group Captain Angad Pratap — and revealed Gaganyaan mission astronauts to the world.On Shukla’s successful return, defence minister Rajnath Singh spoke to Shambhu Dayal Shukla, the father of the astronaut, following his successful return to Earth. “Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla’s successful return from the historic Axiom-4 mission is a proud moment for every Indian. He has not just touched space, he has lifted India’s aspirations to new heights,” Singh said on X.As soon as Shukla made a successful splashdown in the Pacific Ocean aboard SpaceX‘s Crew Dragon, thousands of miles away, his hometown of Lucknow erupted with chants of “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” and applause.Shukla’s father, Shambhu Dayal Shukla, mother Asha Devi and sister Suchi Misra were charged with emotions as the Dragon splashed in the Pacific Ocean off the California coast. “He has been to space and back and we are all over the moon because this mission has its own importance for the country’s Gaganyaan programme,” Shambhu Dayal Shukla said.Shux’s mom Asha Shukla said, “We are very excited…We are waiting for our son… We are proud that our son wrote his name in history… We will give him a grand welcome…”.Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath called the achievement of Shukla, who hails from Lucknow, “a glorious symbol of courage, dedication and commitment to science”. “Every Indian, especially the people of Uttar Pradesh, is proud today. India awaits your return with great excitement,” he added.