Rakesh Sharma, India's first astronaut who journeyed into space in 1984, believes space travel profoundly transforms one's perspective, fostering a sense of shared ownership of our planet. Speaking on a podcast, Sharma reflected on his experiences and the impact of viewing Earth from a cosmic vantage point. His comments coincide with India's recent return to space after 41 years, marked by Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla's voyage to the International Space Station (ISS) as part of a commercial mission.
Sharma, who spent eight days aboard the Soviet Union's Salyut-7 space station, emphasized that the human experience in space brings about significant mental and emotional shifts. He reminisced about the selection process, his training in Star City near Moscow, and the intensive preparation required for the Indo-Soviet mission. He highlighted the necessity of learning Russian to communicate with crew members and mission control, noting the challenges of mastering the language in a short period.
During his mission, Sharma famously quoted "Sare Jahan Se Achha," an iconic patriotic song, when asked by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi how India looked from space. He recalled the breathtaking view of the country, with its diverse landscapes, long coastline, ghats, plains, deserts, tropical forests, hills, and the majestic Himalayas, all painted in different colors and textures.
Sharma expressed optimism about India's future in space exploration, particularly the Gaganyaan mission, which aims to independently send Indian astronauts into space. He sees this as a defining leap in India's self-reliant space capabilities, placing the nation among the few countries with this achievement. He also lauded Group Captain Shukla's mission to the ISS, viewing it as a crucial learning platform for India's space program, offering technological, experiential, and visionary insights.
Sharma underscored the transformative power of space travel, noting that astronauts often return with a changed worldview, appreciating Earth and the need for global unity and preservation. He described watching Earth go through sunrise and sunset every 45 minutes, highlighting the planet's beauty and fragility. He hopes that India, with its rich cultural heritage and the philosophy of "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam" (the world is one family), will lead in promoting global harmony and shared progress, not only in space technology but also in fostering international collaboration.
Sharma's reflections serve as a reminder of the profound impact of space exploration on human consciousness, urging a collective responsibility to protect our shared home and work towards a united future.
