Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the first Indian astronaut to visit the International Space Station (ISS), shared a heartwarming moment with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during an 18-minute interaction from the orbital lab. Shukla, who is on a 14-day mission as part of the Axiom-4 mission, revealed that he carried with him a taste of India, sharing 'gajar ka halwa' (carrot pudding), 'moong dal halwa', and 'aam ras' (mango juice) with his fellow astronauts.
"Yes, I brought 'gajar ka halwa', 'moong dal ka halwa' and 'aam ras'," Shukla told PM Modi. "I wanted everyone who has joined me from other countries to enjoy the rich Indian cuisine. All of us had it together and everyone liked it".
PM Modi, in turn, praised Shukla for representing India on this historic mission. "Even your name carries the word shubh (auspicious), and your journey marks a new and hopeful beginning, a shubh aarambh, for the youth of our nation," Modi said. He added, "Right now, while we are speaking, the feelings of 140 crore Indians are connected with you. As you carry our national flag into outer space, I extend my heartfelt congratulations and wish you the very best for your mission".
Shukla, 39, the mission pilot for Axiom Mission 4, is the second Indian to travel to space, following Rakesh Sharma in 1984. His journey to the ISS marks a significant milestone for India's space program. The mission is a collaboration between NASA, SpaceX, and ISRO, intending to strengthen international spaceflight cooperation.
Shukla launched aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on June 25, 2025. The spacecraft docked with the ISS on June 26, 2025, after a 28-hour journey. He is part of a crew led by commander Peggy Whitson, along with mission specialists Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski and Tibor Kapu.
During the interaction with PM Modi, Shukla described how different space feels compared to Earth. He explained that even simple tasks like drinking water and sleeping become challenging in microgravity. Shukla noted that his feet were tied during the conversation to prevent him from floating away.
Shukla also shared his perspective on viewing Earth from space. "When we saw India for the first time, we saw that India really looks grand, very big, in fact, much bigger than what we see on the map," he said. He added that from space, Earth appears as a complete planet with no borders visible.
The Axiom-4 mission is scheduled to spend 14 days on the ISS, conducting over 60 scientific experiments and educational outreach activities. These experiments include projects in cancer research, DNA repair, and advanced manufacturing.
PM Modi gave Shukla "special homework," expressing India's desire to advance the Gaganyaan mission, build a made-in-India space station, and land 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 of this journey.
Shukla's journey is not only a personal achievement but also a collective achievement for the entire nation. His presence on the ISS signifies India's growing role in space exploration and its commitment to future space endeavors.
