Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the first Indian aboard the International Space Station (ISS), shared his unique perspective of Earth with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday, stating that India "looks grand and bigger from space than it does on a map". The interaction, held via video conference, marked a historic moment for India, celebrating Shukla's achievement as the second Indian to travel to space, following Rakesh Sharma in 1984.
During the conversation, Shukla, the mission pilot of the Axiom-4 mission, expressed his gratitude to PM Modi and the 1.4 billion Indians for their support. He described his journey as a "whole new experience" and emphasized that his 400-km journey from Earth to orbit represented the entire country. Shukla also noted the absence of borders when viewing Earth from space, highlighting the unity of humanity. "When we see the Earth from outside, it seems that no border exists, no state exists, no countries exist. We all are part of humanity, and the Earth is our one home, and all of us are in it," he said.
PM Modi praised Shukla for making history and said that while the astronaut was far from India, he was close to the hearts of all Indians. He also noted the auspicious nature of Shukla's name, "Shubh," and declared the mission a "shubh-aarambh" (auspicious beginning) of a new era for the nation's youth. "Even your name carries the word shubh (auspicious), and your journey marks a new and hopeful beginning for the youth of our nation," PM Modi said. He further 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, launched aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft from NASA's Kennedy Space Centre on June 25, 2025, shared insights into the challenges of living in space, including adapting to zero gravity. He mentioned that sleeping was particularly difficult and that it takes time to adjust to the environment. He also spoke about the importance of mindfulness in managing stressful situations in space, stating, "Mindfulness plays a crucial role. We face many stressful situations, but mindfulness helps us to stay calm. If you stay calm, then you can make good decisions".
The Prime Minister inquired about Shukla's experiences and how he was adapting to the conditions in space. Shukla responded that everything felt different in space due to the absence of gravity. He also shared that he had taken Indian sweets to share with his crewmates.
Shukla's mission is not only a personal achievement but also a significant step for India's space program. His participation in the Axiom-4 mission provides valuable experience for the Gaganyaan mission, India's first human spaceflight program, scheduled for 2027. Shukla's training included rigorous preparation at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Russia.
Shukla emphasized that his journey was a collective achievement for the country and encouraged young people to believe that "sky is never the limit". He proudly displayed the Indian flag on the ISS, a moment that filled him with immense pride. He signed off with a "Bharat Mata ki Jai" chant.
The Axiom-4 mission, a collaboration between NASA, SpaceX, and ISRO, exemplifies the growing role of commercial entities in space exploration and strengthens international cooperation. The mission's crew includes Commander Peggy Whitson from the US, Mission Specialist Sawosz Uznanski of Poland, and Mission Specialist Tibor Kapu of Hungary.
