Shubhanshu Shukla reunites with wife, son after space odyssey

Mangalore Today News Network

Texas, July 17, 2025: After his historic 18-day mission aboard the International Space Station, Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla reunited with his family on Wednesday.

Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, who was in quarantine in Houston, was seen embracing his wife, Kamna Shukla, and his six-year-old son Kiash in photos he posted on his Instagram. 

He said space flight is as “amazing" as seeing your loved ones after a long time. Less than 24 hours after he landed, he got to meet his family and, that too, after two months because he was in quarantine. He added that human spaceflight missions are magical but are made so by the humans involved.   

“Space flight is amazing but seeing your loved ones after a long time is equally amazing. It has been 2 months since I entered quarantine. During the quarantine family visits we had to be 8 m apart. My little one had to be told that he had germs on his hands and that is why he could not touch his father. Every time he would come for the visit he would ask his mom: ‘Can I wash my hands?’ It was challenging," he said in his Instagram post.

He added: “Coming back to Earth and holding my family back in my arms felt like home. Find a loved one today and tell them that you love them. We often get busy in life and forget how important the people in our lives are. Human spaceflight missions are magical but they are made magical by the humans."

Shubhanshu, or Shuks as he is known to his colleagues, friends and now legions of followers, splashed down on earth on Tuesday (July 15), along with three other astronauts – commander Peggy Whitson, and mission specialists Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski of Poland and Tibor Kapu of Hungary – of the private Axiom-4 mission.

A Group Captain in the Indian Air Force, he became the second Indian to travel to space after Rakesh Sharma’s 1984 sojourn as part of a Soviet Russian mission. He scripted history by becoming the first Indian to travel to the International Space Station (ISS) with the longest stint – 20 days – in orbit around the Earth.

For India, Hungary and Poland, this mission has realised the return to human spaceflight, with astronauts from these countries travelling to space for the first time in more than 40 years.

Back in Europe, Polish astronaut Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski also received a warm welcome back home. He landed in Cologne, Germany, less than 24 hours after his return to Earth.  

Onboard the orbital laboratory, the Axiom-4 mission crew comprising Shukla spent 18 days conducting 60 experiments and 20 outreach sessions. He conducted pioneering experiments in microgravity on subjects such as muscle regeneration, algal and microbial growth, crop viability, microbial survivability, cognitive performance in space, and the behaviour of cyanobacteria.

‘PREPARING SOME OF HIS FAVOURITE DISHES’

Shubhanshu’s wife Kamna, who has been in the US ever since he began his prep for his liftoff from Florida on June 25, is looking forward to home-cooked meals, quiet family time and sharing stories from earth and beyond.

“Now that Shubhanshu has safely returned, our immediate focus will be on his rehabilitation and ensuring he smoothly readjusts to life on earth. For us, simply being reunited after this incredible journey is a celebration in itself," Kamna told PTI from Houston. “I am already preparing some of his favourite dishes, knowing how much he must have missed home cooked meals during his time in space." 

The couple got married in 2009. They have known each other since Class 3 when they both studied in Lucknow’s City Montessori School.

Kamna spoke with pride of the transformation of the “shy young man" Shubhanshu was to the famous astronaut he is today. He is also part of ISRO’s plan to launch the Gaganyaan-India’s first human space flight-in 2027.

“Receiving his call from the International Space Station right after docking was an unexpected and wonderful surprise. Hearing his voice and knowing he was safe meant the world to me. Our conversations typically revolved around his daily activities, the unique experiments he conducted, and the extraordinary experiences he encountered, which were vastly different from life on earth. These phone calls became the highlight of my day through 18 days," she was quoted by PTI.

At their alma mater, City Montessori School, Shubhanshu is the new poster boy for students, many dreaming of a career as an astronaut. And Kamna could not be more delighted.

“I think this is absolutely fantastic. The essence of Shubhanshu’s mission was always about inspiring the younger generation to pursue STEM fields, to innovate, and to bring cutting-edge technology to India. While the path to becoming an astronaut is challenging, it’s incredibly rewarding. Those who choose this path will not only achieve personal fulfillment but also bring great honour and pride to our nation," she added.