Indian PM Narendra Modi on Tuesday welcomed Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla after he returned from the International Space Station after spending nearly three weeks there as part of the Axiom 4 mission.

In his first X post after Shukla's return to Earth, Modi said he inspired a billion dreams through his dedication, courage and pioneering spirit.

In his post, he said: "I join the nation in welcoming Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla as he returns to Earth from his historic mission to Space."

He further said: "As India’s first astronaut to have visited International Space Station, he has inspired a billion dreams through his dedication, courage and pioneering spirit. It marks another milestone towards our own Human Space Flight Mission - Gaganyaan."

Shukla returns home

Writing a glorious chapter in India’s space odyssey, astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla splashed down off California with Ax-4 crew members on Tuesday.

Shukla returned to Earth after spending two weeks at the ISS.

He was the first Indian astronaut to reach the ISS.

Confirming the development, Space X wrote on X: “Splashdown of Dragon confirmed – welcome back to Earth,@AstroPeggy, Shux, @astro_slawosz , and Tibi!”

Group Captain Shukla, now India’s newest space hero, splashed down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego in the US at approximately 3:01 pm IST aboard SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft.

Shukla and his fellow crew members returned to Earth after a 22-hour journey since they undocked from the ISS on Monday.