Fresh from his historic journey to the International Space Station (ISS) as part of the Axiom-4 Mission, Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla expressed optimism about India’s space future, stating that “very soon, someone from our own soil, in our own rocket, will travel to space.” Speaking at a press conference in New Delhi on Thursday, Shukla shared insights from his two-week mission aboard the ISS, emphasizing its significance for India’s Gaganyaan programme, the nation’s first human spaceflight initiative set for 2027.
Shukla, the first Indian astronaut to visit the ISS, described the experience as transformative. “No matter how much training you have done, when you sit in the rocket and the engines ignite, it’s a very different feeling,” he said, recalling the launch aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 and Crew Dragon from Cape Canaveral, Florida. “I was running behind the rocket for the first few seconds, and it took me time to catch up. From that moment until we splashed down off San Diego, the experience was unbelievable.” He highlighted the ISS, operational since 2000, as a “perfect example of international collaboration” and an orbiting laboratory for cutting-edge science.
The astronaut’s training included both the Crew Dragon and Russia’s Soyuz, equipping him with insights critical for Gaganyaan, which aims to send a three-member crew to a 400 km orbit for a three-day mission. “The first-hand experience from the ISS mission is invaluable, far beyond any training,” Shukla noted, adding that it would directly benefit India’s space ambitions. He also echoed the iconic words of India’s first astronaut, Rakesh Sharma, saying, “India looks saare jahaan se achcha (better than the entire world) even today.”
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On the same day, Shukla met Defence Minister Rajnath Singh at South Block to discuss his space journey, the experiments conducted in orbit, and the road ahead for Gaganyaan, formally announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2018. Singh praised Shukla’s achievement, posting on X: “Delighted to meet Gp Capt Shubanshu Shukla, the first Indian Astronaut on-board International Space Station. His journey will inspire the young minds of India. The nation is proud of his achievements.” The minister shared photos of the meeting, highlighting discussions on scientific advancements and the Gaganyaan mission.
Union Minister Jitendra Singh, also at the press conference, attributed India’s recent space milestones to adopting global benchmarks. “The Department of Space has been around for nearly 70 years, and ISRO was established in 1969. Why did this progress happen only in the last few years? We’ve started following global strategies and parameters,” he said. Group Captain Prasanth B. Nair, part of the Gaganyaan crew, likened Shukla to Lord Ram and himself to Lakshman, crediting ISRO’s “fantastic vanar sena” (team) for the mission’s success. “Without their support, this would not have been possible,” Nair said.
Shukla expressed gratitude to the government, ISRO, and the public, noting, “Each and every citizen of this country behaved in a way that made it feel like they owned this mission.” He highlighted efforts to make the mission accessible to the public, fostering national pride. The Axiom-4 Mission, launched from Cape Canaveral and concluding with a Pacific Ocean recovery, marked a milestone for India’s space programme, which has seen rapid growth, including the Chandrayaan-3 lunar landing in 2023 and plans for the Bharatiya Antariksh Station by 2035.
As India gears up for Gaganyaan, with test flights scheduled for 2026, Shukla’s mission underscores the nation’s growing prowess in space exploration. His experiences, from conducting experiments to navigating the challenges of spaceflight, are set to shape India’s journey to becoming a global space power.
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