Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the first Indian astronaut to travel to the International Space Station (ISS). Shukla, who was part of the Axiom-4 commercial mission, shared his experiences of space travel with the Prime Minister.

During the interaction, Shukla highlighted the global enthusiasm for India's Gaganyaan mission. He noted that people worldwide are keenly following India's space endeavors and are excited about the prospect of the Gaganyaan mission. Shukla recounted instances where individuals expressed more excitement about Gaganyaan than even himself, inquiring about the mission's progress. He even mentioned that his crewmates on the Axiom-4 mission requested signed declarations from him, ensuring they would be invited to the Gaganyaan launch.

Shukla also shared insights into the challenges and unique aspects of life in space. He mentioned that food is a significant challenge on the ISS due to limited space and the expense of cargo. Astronauts try to maximize calorie and nutrient intake while minimizing space. Shukla also discussed the experiments he conducted on the orbital lab, including those related to food growth in microgravity.

The Prime Minister inquired about the physical and psychological impacts of space travel. Shukla explained that the absence of gravity creates a distinctly different environment. He noted that the heart rate slows down significantly, and the body undergoes several adjustments, but acclimatizes within a few days. Modi also asked about the capsule's space, and Shukla responded that it was comfortable.

Shukla presented Modi with the Axiom-4 mission patch and the Indian tricolor he carried to space. The same flag was in the backdrop when Shukla spoke to Modi virtually from the ISS on June 29. He also showed the Prime Minister photographs of Earth taken from space.

Modi emphasized the importance of government support for space research and stressed the need for India to build a pool of 40-50 astronauts to lead future missions. He acknowledged Shukla's mission as the first step in India's space ambitions, with the country now having strategic missions ahead, including the Space Station and Gaganyaan. India aims to undertake its first human spaceflight in 2027 and build its own space station by 2035. India also has plans to land its own astronaut on the moon by 2040.

Shukla's participation in the Axiom-4 mission is expected to provide valuable experience for the Gaganyaan program. His insights will help improve astronaut training, spacecraft design, and mission planning. Shukla said that he had fulfilled the task entrusted to him by Prime Minister Modi to document every aspect of his mission for the benefit of India's upcoming Gaganyaan programme.

The Prime Minister congratulated Shukla on his successful mission, stating that he has inspired a billion dreams. Modi said that this mission marks another milestone towards India's own human space flight mission Gaganyaan.