Group Captain Shubhanshu “Shux” Shukla the first Indian to visit the International Space Station has spent over 18 days on the Axiom-4 commercial space mission, and his family in Lucknow is anxiously awaiting his homecoming. Since docking on June 26, Shukla has been conducting scientific experiments and sharing breathtaking views of Earth with loved ones during live video calls.

His parents, Asha and Shambhu Dayal Shukla, performed special prayers and rituals at home and local temples, expressing deep pride and gratitude. His father praised his professionalism and composure, recounting how Shukla showed them his workspace, sleeping area, and the serene orbital scenes. His mother eagerly anticipates cooking all Shukla’s favourite home-cooked meals once he returns.

His sisters and extended family have also prepared a heartfelt welcome. His sister, Shuchi Mishra, expressed excitement about finally meeting him after over a year, while younger relatives described him as their "superhero." As NASA formally schedules the mission’s undocking on July 14 and a splashdown off California’s coast follows, the Shukla household stands united in jubilant anticipation.

This heartfelt scene reflects not just personal joy, but national pride in India's renewed leap into human spaceflight over four decades after Rakesh Sharma.