Bengaluru, July 15 (Reporter) The successful return of Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla from space is more than just a personal triumph, it is a critical step toward India's human spaceflight ambitions, particularly the Gaganyaan mission. Ex-ISRO scientist BR Guruprasad today said that Shukla’s role in conducting around 60 scientific experiments, including seven from India, will yield valuable inputs" for the country’s future in space. "Shukla's mission has been very fruitful, no doubt about it,” the expert remarked, adding that the astronaut gained first-hand experience in orbit — travelling to space, living aboard the International Space Station (ISS), conducting scientific work, and returning safely. "Such experience is not only rare but immensely useful." The Axiom-4 mission, of which Shukla was part along with three other astronauts, is now being seen as a live rehearsal of the challenges and protocols India must perfect for Gaganyaan. "Spaceflight is a highly complex endeavour. A large part of it lies in planning, analysis, training, and only then comes implementation," the expert said. The expert stressed that the mission provided deep insights into astronaut training, communications, risk mitigation, and re-entry procedures. "From launch precautions to safe return, everything offers India a blueprint," he added. Shukla, along with Prashant Balkrishna Nair, had undergone advanced training, but Shukla was more intensively involved, further strengthening India's human spaceflight readiness. While the mission lasted 18 to 19 days, it still holds high significance, the expert noted, drawing a comparison with astronaut Sunita Williams, who stayed in space for 286 days. "This was a shorter stint, but even then, Shukla and the crew will need time to re-adapt to Earth. The learnings from this process are vital for our astronaut support systems," he said. The expert concluded by saying that the success of Axiom-4 and Shukla’s performance have instilled pride across the country. "This is a moment of immense satisfaction for all 140 crore Indians. As one among them, I can say — we’re really, really proud...////...