Dehradun (Uttarakhand) [India], July 15 (ANI): Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Tuesday congratulated Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla upon his return to Earth following the successful completion of the Axiom-4 mission. The CM called the achievement a matter of pride for the nation and an inspiration for the youth.

In a post on X, Chief Minister Dhami wrote, 'Heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to Group Captain of the Indian Air Force and son of Mother India, Shri Shubhanshu Shukla Ji, on the successful completion of his historic 18-day mission aboard the International Space Station.'

'Your remarkable achievement is not only a testament to India's growing prowess in the field of space science, but also a significant step towards unlocking the profound mysteries of the universe,' he further added.

Furthermore, calling the mission a milestone in India's space journey, Dhami said, 'Your journey has inspired an entire generation of young Indians to dream beyond the skies and believe that with courage, discipline, and dedication, even the stars are within reach.'

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also welcomed Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla upon his return to Earth from the International Space Station (ISS), saying that he has inspired a billion dreams through his dedication.

Meanwhile, the Dragon spacecraft piloted by Group Captain Shukla splashed down with grace, completing its mission after 18 days on the ISS. Waving to the camera, a smiling 'Shux' egressed from the Dragon spacecraft which he had piloted.

SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft 'Grace' successfully splashed down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California, marking the safe return of the Axiom-4 (Ax-4) crew, including pilot Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the first Indian to visit the International Space Station (ISS).

The splashdown, confirmed by SpaceX, concludes a nearly 19-day mission aboard the ISS, fulfilling a significant milestone in Indo-US space cooperation.

Axiom Mission 4 was launched on June 25 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Centre in Florida. The Dragon spacecraft successfully docked with the ISS on June 26 at 4:05 pm IST, ahead of schedule, connecting to the space-facing port of the station's Harmony module. (ANI)