Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla on Saturday, who is currently aboard the International Space Station (ISS). During the conversation, Modi emphasized the significance of this mission as a crucial first step towards India's ambitious goal of establishing its own space station.
Group Captain Shukla, a pilot in the Indian Air Force (IAF), made history as the first Indian to reach the International Space Station. He is the second Indian to travel to space, following Rakesh Sharma's journey in 1984 aboard the Soviet Union's Soyuz T-11 spacecraft. Shukla launched on June 25 aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida as part of the Axiom-4 mission. The spacecraft successfully docked at the ISS on June 26, after a 28-hour journey.
During the conversation, PM Modi told Shukla, "You are farthest from India but closest to Indians' heart". He also remarked that Shukla's journey marks a hopeful beginning for the youth of the nation. Modi conveyed the wishes of 1.4 billion Indians to Shukla and praised him for carrying the national flag into outer space. Shukla responded by expressing his gratitude to PM Modi and the people of India, stating that he felt safe and was having a new experience.
Shukla also shared his perspective of Earth from space, noting that India looks "grand and bigger from space than it does on the map". He added that no borders are visible from space and emphasized the importance of mindfulness in dealing with stressful situations.
PM Modi inquired about the challenges of adapting to the space environment. Shukla explained that sleeping in zero gravity was difficult to get used to. He also mentioned that he had carried gajar ka halwa (carrot pudding) and aamras (mango juice) to share with his fellow astronauts.
The Prime Minister also gave Shukla "special homework," expressing India's keen interest in advancing the Gaganyaan mission, building an indigenous space station, and landing Indian astronauts on the Moon. He told Shukla that his historic journey would inspire students to explore space and that his experience would be the foundation for this journey.
Group Captain Shukla's mission is a crucial stepping stone for India's Gaganyaan program, which aims to demonstrate the country's independent human spaceflight capability. The mission also involves conducting numerous experiments with potential benefits for India's agriculture and health sectors. Data from Shukla's experiments and operational experience will inform design decisions for the Gaganyaan spacecraft and mission protocols.
Shukla's journey to the ISS represents a significant milestone in India's space ambitions. His presence on the ISS and interaction with PM Modi serve as an inspiration for future generations and reinforce India's commitment to becoming a leading player in space exploration.
