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Shubhanshu Shukla returns from ISS

1 min readISRO Missions
Battle IAS current affairs title card: Shubhanshu Shukla returns from ISS (GS3 · Space, 16 July 2025)

What happened

  • Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla returned on 15 July 2025 after an 18-day mission on the ISS, launched on 25 June 2025 as Mission Pilot [PIB].
  • He is the first Indian astronaut to travel to the International Space Station; the Cabinet passed a resolution welcoming him [PIB].

Background

  • The Cabinet called it a new chapter for India’s space programme [PIB].

Why it matters

  • Flight experience feeds directly into Gaganyaan.

How to use this in Mains

GS-III Space

  1. As per PIB (2025-07-16): group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla returned on 15 July 2025 after an 18-day mission on the ISS, launched on 25 June 2025 as Mission Pilot.
  2. Flight experience feeds directly into Gaganyaan.
Quotable data point

Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla returned on 15 July 2025 after an 18-day mission on the ISS, launched on 25 June 2025 as Mission Pilot.

PIB: Cabinet resolution on Shubhanshu Shukla, 16 Jul 2025

Exam angle

UPSC

Prelims: first Indian on ISS.

Practice MCQs

Original practice questions (not PYQs).

Practice · UPSC

Duration of Shukla's ISS mission

Answer (c) & explanation

PIB.

Go deeper

ExplainerISRO and India’s Space Programme: History, Launch Vehicles, Major Missions from Aryabhata to Chandrayaan-3, Space Sector Reforms and the Road to 2040 (UPSC Notes + PYQs)ExplainerGaganyaan: India’s Human Spaceflight Programme, HLVM3, Crew Module, Astronaut-Designates, Test Flights and the Bharatiya Antariksh Station (UPSC Notes + PYQs)

Official source: PIB: Cabinet resolution on Shubhanshu Shukla, 16 Jul 2025

facts from cited sources only; faculty review pending