Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla
Credit: PTI Photo
Lucknow: The state capital of Lucknow is all set to roll out the red carpet for the local boy and ISS Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, who will be arriving in his hometown on Monday.
The road leading to Shubhanshu’s residence at Triveni Nagar locality was paved with cement overnight and hoardings were put at several crossings in the town welcoming Shukla.
According to the sources, the administration will be enforcing route diversions in many parts of the city in an apparent bid to restrict traffic and crowds which were expected to assemble to greet the ISS Astronaut.
Mayor of the city Archana Kharkwal would be present at the Airport along with Shubhanshu’s parents to receive him.
Sources said that a victory parade was also planned from the Airport to the Gomti Nagar locality in the city. A road in Triveni Nagar would also be named after Shubhanshu.
Sources said that Shubhanshu will be staying at a government Guest House under tight security and it was not clear if he will be visiting his residence during his stay.
Shubhanshu’s sister Shuchi Mishra said that she would tie ‘Rakhee’ on the wrist of her brother while welcoming him.
Shubhanshu joined the IAF as a fighter pilot in 2006. He was selected as an astronaut for the Gaganyan Mission in 2019. From 2019 to 2021 he underwent Basic Astronaut training at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Russia. He completed training in SpaceX in 2025.
Earlier Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma had made the journey into Space as part of a Soviet Mission in 1984.
Alongwith Shukla, Poland’s Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski, Hundary’s Toboor Kapu and Commander Peggy Whitson were also aboard the Spacecraft.
The crew of the AXIOM-4 Mission had headed to the ISS (International Space Station) and conducted scientific experiments during their fortnight long mission. He and the other crew members returned to Earth on July 14.