Shubhanshu Shukla Gets Emotional After Meeting Wife & Son, Says 'Holding Family In Arms Felt Like Home'
After making history as the first Indian to live aboard the International Space Station (ISS), astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla finally returned to Earth and into the arms of his loved ones. Following an intense eight-day mission and a nearly two-month delay due to pre-flight quarantine and space travel, the reunion was nothing short of emotional.
Shubhanshu Shukla reunites with family
Photos shared by Shukla on social media captured the deeply moving moment he reunited with his family at a facility in Houston, just hours after the splashdown of SpaceX’s Dragon capsule. His mother, Kamna, hugged him in a tearful embrace, clearly overwhelmed after weeks of anticipation.
Another heartfelt moment showed Shukla lifting his four-year-old son in the air, holding him close after their long separation. The astronaut, known affectionately as "Shux" by his crewmates, had spent over a month in quarantine before launch, making the reunion even more important.
'Holding my family felt like home'
In his Instagram caption, Shukla shared his thoughts on the emotional toll of being away from his family and the joy of reuniting.
He stated, "Space flight is amazing but seeing your loved ones after a long time is equally amazing. It has been 2 months since I entered quarantine. During the quarantine family visits we had to be 8 m apart. My little one had to be told that he had germs on his hands and that is why he could not touch his father. Every time he would come for the visit he would ask his mom “Can I wash my hands?” It was challenging."
"Coming back to Earth and holding my family back in my arms felt like home. Find a loved one today and tell them that you love them. We often get busy in life and forget how important the people in our lives are. Human spaceflight missions are magical but they are made magical by the humans," Shukla concluded.
news