India, July 16 -- At 3.01pm IST Tuesday, SpaceX's Dragon Grace spacecraft splashed down in the calm waters of the Pacific Ocean off the west coast of the US at the end of a 22.5 hour journey from the International Space Station (ISS).

Inside were Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, only the second Indian to go to space, and the Indian to have spent most time there, and three of his Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission crew mates.

Shortly after Shukla, who was all smiles, was assisted out of the capsule onto the recovery vessel, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on X said, "I join the nation in welcoming Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla as he returns to Earth from his historic mission to Space. As India's first astronaut to have visited (the) International Spa...