‘Coming home after 1.5 years’: Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla’s family expresses excitement at his hometown arrival; second Indian in space felicitated | Lucknow News

NEW DELHI: Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the second Indian to reach space, received a warm welcome in his hometown Lucknow on Monday, where Uttar Pradesh deputy chief minister Brajesh Pathak greeted him at the airport. His arrival drew large crowds, including excited children and supporters, followed by a felicitation ceremony at City Montessori School in Gomtinagar.Shukla returned to Earth on July 15 after completing the NASA Axiom (AX-4) space mission and landed in Delhi on August 17.His mother expressed joy about his homecoming after a long separation, saying, “My son is coming home after 1.5 years. I am very happy and excited to meet him after so long. We will welcome him warmly. The entire family is going to the airport to welcome him.”His sister shared similar sentiments about his return, stating, “I am very happy and excited. We were waiting for this day for a long time. He is finally coming home to Lucknow… This is the biggest achievement. All children and the whole of Lucknow will be there to welcome him home. Nothing can be merrier than this. People are showing him so much love, and he is motivating children.”A day before his arrival in Lucknow, Shukla was felicitated by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. Speaking about the mission’s significance, he shared his thoughts with reporters: “Raksha Mantri felicitated me and I think this mission is a big achievement for our country and it happened at the right time. India is on its journey of a human space flight- Mission Gaganyaan, Bharatiya Antriksh Station, and eventually, landing on moon.“The successful completion of his space mission marks a significant milestone in India’s space exploration journey, contributing to future missions like Gaganyaan and the Bharatiya Antriksh Station.