Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is relearning to walk after returning from his mission to the International Space Station (ISS). Shukla's return marks a significant milestone for India's space program, as he is the first Indian astronaut to visit the ISS. He is also the second Indian to travel to space, following Rakesh Sharma's mission in 1984.
Shukla's mission was part of the Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4), a commercial human spaceflight to the ISS. The mission, facilitated by NASA, SpaceX, and ISRO, saw Shukla spend 18 days aboard the ISS conducting experiments in microgravity. The crew splashed down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego on July 14.
Upon returning to Earth, Shukla is undergoing a period of readaptation to Earth's gravity. A video posted on social media showed him relearning how to walk and engaging in physical exercises. In the video's caption, Shukla explained that experiencing microgravity causes several bodily changes, including fluid shift, heart rate changes, balance readjustment, and muscle loss. These changes are adaptations to the space environment, and the body must readjust upon returning to Earth.
Experts note that in microgravity, muscles and bones weaken because they don't work as hard. The body also has to readjust its balance, blood flow, and coordination patterns. As a result, astronauts often experience dizziness, muscle fatigue, and balance issues after even short space missions. Recovery involves physiotherapy, balance training, and cardiovascular workouts to retrain the body. The time it takes to fully regain strength and coordination can vary from days to weeks, depending on the length of the mission.
Shukla's mission is considered a major step forward for India's Gaganyaan program, which aims to send Indian astronauts into low Earth orbit by 2027. Shukla's experience on the ISS will provide ISRO with valuable insights into astronaut health, spacecraft systems, and operational protocols in microgravity. The data collected during the Axiom-4 mission will be used to improve astronaut training, spacecraft design, and mission planning for the Gaganyaan program.
The mission also provided an opportunity to conduct experiments in microgravity. Shukla conducted seven India-specific experiments on the ISS, including experiments on food growth, oxygen production, and health monitoring. NASA confirmed that the Dragon spacecraft returned with over 580 pounds of cargo, including hardware and data from more than 60 scientific experiments conducted during the mission.
Shukla's journey has been hailed as a source of inspiration for Indians and a symbol of the country's growing role in space exploration. Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Shukla on his return, saying that he has inspired a billion dreams. President Droupadi Murmu said that Shukla's mission has created a new milestone for India's space exploration and international collaboration in science and technology.
Shukla, who was born on October 10, 1985, in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, was selected as one of the four astronauts for the Gaganyaan mission in 2019. He underwent training at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Russia and earned a Master of Engineering degree in aerospace engineering from the Indian Institute of Science. He is a Group Captain in the Indian Air Force and a seasoned test pilot with over 2,000 hours of flight experience across various aircraft.
Following his return, Shukla and the other Axiom-4 astronauts will remain in quarantine until July 23 to complete medical and readaptation procedures.
