Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, currently aboard the International Space Station (ISS) as part of the Axiom-4 mission, shared a lighthearted yet insightful detail about life in zero gravity during a recent conversation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Shukla revealed that he had to tie his legs to stay in place while speaking with the Prime Minister, highlighting the challenges of adapting to the microgravity environment.
The interaction between PM Modi and Shukla took place on Saturday, with Modi congratulating the astronaut on behalf of 1.4 billion Indians. He noted that while Shukla was "furthest from the motherland," he was "closest to Indian hearts". Modi also remarked on the auspicious nature of Shukla's name, suggesting his journey marked a hopeful beginning for a new era for the youth of India.
Shukla, in turn, expressed his gratitude to PM Modi, stating that his leadership had provided numerous opportunities for Indians to fulfill their dreams. He described his experience of viewing Earth from space, emphasizing its unity and the absence of borders. "When we see the Earth from outside, it seems that no border exists, no state exists, no countries exist," Shukla said. "We all are part of humanity, and the Earth is our one home, and all of us are in it". He also noted that India looked "very grand, very big, much bigger than what we see on the map".
During the conversation, Shukla shared some of the difficulties of living in space. "Everything changes once we are here because gravity is absent," he explained. "We are used to gravity. While I am talking to you right now, my feet have been tied, otherwise I would float up. Everything is different — drinking water… walking. Sleeping is a challenge — you can sleep on the roof, you can sleep on the walls, you can sleep on the floor… It takes time to get used to this".
Shukla also spoke about carrying Indian desserts, including "gajar ka halwa, moong dal ka halwa and aam ras," to share with his international crewmates. PM Modi inquired whether the astronauts enjoyed the treats, and Shukla confirmed that they did, allowing them to experience India's rich culinary heritage.
PM Modi gave Shukla "special homework," encouraging him to absorb all the knowledge he could and contribute to India's Gaganyaan mission, the development of an indigenous space station, and the eventual landing of Indian astronauts on the Moon. Shukla assured the Prime Minister that he was absorbing every detail and would apply his learnings to accelerate India's space endeavors. He also mentioned that his international colleagues had expressed interest in participating in the Gaganyaan mission.
Shukla's mission marks a historic milestone for India, as he is the first Indian to cross the Karman line in over 41 years, following Rakesh Sharma's mission aboard the Soviet Soyuz T-11 in 1984. Before docking with the ISS, Shukla shared a message stating, "This isn't the beginning of my journey to ISS, but [the] beginning of India's human space flight programme".
The Prime Minister lauded Shukla's journey as a catalyst for the Gaganyaan mission and future space endeavors. He expressed confidence that Shukla's experiences would inspire India's youth to pursue their dreams. Shukla, in turn, encouraged young people by saying, "There's no one path to success, but if you never stop trying, it will come—sooner or later". PM Modi concluded the interaction by stating, "India is opening new frontiers in space for the world… The sky is no longer the limit".
