The safe return of Indian Air Force Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla from the International Space Station (ISS) sparked an emotional outpouring in Lucknow on Tuesday, where his parents and sister watched the live broadcast of the historic landing with bated breath.
Shukla's spacecraft touched down safely on the coast of California at 3 PM IST, marking the end of a landmark international mission. At City Montessori School (CMS) in Lucknow where he studied as a child a live screening of the landing had been arranged. As the capsule landed, his parents, Asha Devi and Shambhu Dayal Shukla, were overcome with emotion.
“This is the proudest moment of our lives,” said his mother, Asha Devi, holding back tears. “When the landing was happening, there was fear in my heart. But I knew God would bring him back. He sent him into space and brought him back safely.”
The emotional moment was shared by dozens of students, teachers, and former classmates gathered at the school. The return of Group Captain Shukla is not only a personal milestone for his family but a moment of national pride, highlighting the growing footprint of Indians in global space missions.
Shukla’s father, Shambhu Dayal, was visibly emotional as he watched his son’s re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere. “He made the country proud, but to us, he’s still the same boy we raised in this city,” he said.
Shubhanshu's sister, Shuchi Mishra, echoed the family’s joy and relief. “He’s back! This is not just a proud moment for our family but for the entire country. We are thrilled and deeply grateful.”
The Indian Air Force officer had been part of a collaborative space program, becoming one of the few Indians to complete a mission aboard the ISS. While technical details of the mission are still being debriefed, the focus on Tuesday remained firmly on the emotional resonance of the moment.
For the Shukla family, it was not just a scientific accomplishment it was a divine homecoming. “This is God's blessing,” said Asha Devi. “He gave him the strength to go, and He gave us the strength to wait.”
As neighbors and well-wishers gathered outside their home to congratulate the family, the overwhelming sentiment was one of gratitude and national pride.
