Lucknow,

17 July (HS): Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, an Indian astronaut who returned

after a successful space mission with three others, is in Houston, Texas, while

he readjusts to life on Earth, according to his father on Thursday. Shukla, or

Shux as he is known to his pals, returned to Earth on Tuesday after spending 18

days onboard the International Space Station.

He is the first Indian to travel to the International Space Station, and

the second after Rakesh Sharma. He is presently in Houston. His wife, Kamna, and their 6-year-old son,

Kiash, have already arrived. According to an official announcement quoting

Union Minister Jitendra Singh, Shukla and the other three mission astronauts

would be quarantined until July 23 to undergo medical and re-adaptation

procedures.

They

want to initiate conversations with ISRO on the 24th. Debriefings with Axiom and NASA will follow,

he stated. He (Shubhanshu) stated that he is receiving good care; it is

necessary for him to acclimate to life on Earth. His wife and son are also present,

Shukla's father, Shambhu Dayal, said in Lucknow.

During

our phone chat, Shubhanshu looked ecstatic about the accomplishment, which

meant so much for the country. The 39-year-old Indian Air Force man, who became

a national legend after completing his journey to the International Space

Station on SpaceX's Dragon 'Grace' spaceship, is presently in Houston with his

family. Shukla's wife, Kamna Shukla, told reporters from the United States,

We are in Houston and have already met him. He is with us. Homecoming has occurred.”

Shukla's

father stated that the family in Lucknow has been overwhelmed by the public

response to Shubhanshu's success and is ready to greet him. It will take some

time (for him to arrive in Lucknow), but when he does, there will be a great

celebration, to be honest. These days, every moment is a celebration for us,

and the entire community joins us. He is the toast of the country. And his

coming here will only increase our pleasure index, he said, his pride palpable.

The enthusiasm is apparent at Shukla's alma school, City Montessori School

(CMS), where students and faculty are getting ready to honor their superstar.

“I am very inspired today to pursue a career as an astronaut. I believe space

will be the latest fad among young people, thanks to Group Captain Shubhanshu

Shukla, our illustrious senior, said Aarav Singh Chauhan, a CMS Class XII

student. CMS Communications Head Rishi Khanna stated that the whole school

community was proud of the astronaut's historic mission.

Shubhanshu

has piqued the interest of young people, and knowing how important his space

mission is to India and its impending Gaganyaan project, he stated that the

whole 70,000-strong CMS family, as well as the rest of Lucknow, will greet him

warmly once he returns to his birthplace. Shukla's journey, which finished with

a safe splashdown off the coast of San Diego, was a watershed moment for

India's human spaceflight goals.

Shubhanshu will be in quarantine until July

23, with supervised visits from close family allowed. Shubhanshu posted

beautiful photographs of meeting his wife and son on Instagram on Wednesday

evening.

“It

was difficult. Returning to Earth and

hugging my family in my arms felt like home.

Human spaceflight missions are wonderful, but they are produced that way

by humans. Space trip is great, but

seeing your loved ones after a long period is equally amazing,” he mentioned in

the post.

It's

been two months since I was quarantined.

During quarantine family visits, we had to be 8 meters apart. My child had to be taught that he had germs

on his hands and thus could not contact his father. Every time he came to visit, he asked his

mother, 'Can I wash my hands?' It was

difficult, he said, telling people to cherish their loved ones.

Find

a loved one today and express your affection for them. He stated that we frequently become preoccupied

with our lives and lose sight of the importance of the people in our lives.

Meanwhile,

Kamna has been in the United States since Shubhanshu began preparing for his

SpaceX launch from Florida on June 25.

The

duo was married in 2009. They've known

each other since Class 3, when they were both students at Lucknow City

Montessori School. Kamna claimed her favorite part of Shubhanshu's 18-day stay

in space was receiving phone calls from him.

Receiving

his call from the International Space Station immediately after docking was an unexpected

and joyful surprise. Hearing his voice and knowing he was safe meant a lot to

me. Our chats usually focused around his

everyday activities, the fascinating experiments he carried out, and the

incredible experiences he had that were far different from life on Earth. She stated that these phone conversations

were the highlight of her day for 18 days.

Shubhanshu

has gained superstar status, with posters of him adorning his Lucknow house in

Triveni Nagar, and his parents and relatives have been inundated with

congratulatory letters. While the country celebrates his tremendous

achievement, our family will appreciate quieter, more intimate moments

together. Kamna described how we celebrate by exchanging old tales, laughing,

and enjoying simple pleasures.

His

return is a lovely combination of personal delight and national pride, and we

are extremely thankful for all of the encouragement and kindness we've gotten

from all around the country, she said. Kamna said that the extended periods of

isolation that come with space travel are hard, but she has become accustomed

to them. Separations have, in many ways,

deepened their closeness.

Separation

is surely stressful and painful.

However, our experience in the Air Force has taught us resilience and

adaptation, making these separations easier to bear over time, she explained. In

many respects, these times apart have only deepened our relationship, teaching

us patience, understanding, and unflinching support for each other's goals. Finally, we accept the notion that everything

genuinely precious is seldom obtained easily. When you devote yourself to a

goal or vocation of such importance, you naturally learn to overcome the

emotional problems that come with distance, she explained. The pair is

constantly cognizant of the larger goal underlying these sacrifices,

understanding that important accomplishments need enormous labor and patience.

Kamna

expressed delight in Shuks' metamorphosis from a bashful young man to the

famous astronaut he is today. Seeing him engage so boldly and joyously with

pupils from space made me extremely proud and happy. Witnessing his extraordinary change from a

shy young guy to a vibrant and captivating individual capable of influencing

numerous young brains is really emotional. His path exemplifies the tremendous

potential of human development and resilience.

His story ought to be told widely, and I'm glad to see him saying it

eloquently and with a genuine grin, she added. Shubhanshu is the new poster boy

for their alma mater, Lucknow's City Montessori School, where many pupils want

to be astronauts.

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi