New Delhi: Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, fresh off his historic Axiom-4 mission, offered a glimpse into his transition back to life on Earth during a virtual press conference held on Friday. Shukla and his fellow Axiom-4 crewmates recounted their 20-day space journey and their 18-day stay aboard the International Space Station (ISS), marking a significant chapter in India’s space exploration narrative.
Sharing the often humorous and human side of readjusting to Earth’s gravity, Shukla recalled moments that highlighted how drastically his environment had changed. “The moment I held a phone to take a photo, it felt unusually heavy. The same phone that we use every day felt like a weight in my hand,” he said. In another telling instance, he admitted to dropping his laptop while sitting on his bed — forgetting for a moment that objects don’t float on Earth. “I shut my laptop and left it hanging beside me, expecting it to float. It fell — thankfully, onto a carpet,” he laughed.
Shubhanshu Shukla is only the second Indian to have travelled to space, following Rakesh Sharma’s milestone mission with the Soviet Union in 1984. The Axiom-4 mission launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on June 25 and safely returned to Earth on July 15.
Reflecting on the mission’s significance, Shukla said, “After 41 years, a Bharatiya returned to space. But this time, it wasn’t a solitary leap — it was India’s second orbit. We are no longer mere spectators in space exploration; we are ready not just to fly, but to lead.”
A particularly emotional moment for the Lucknow-born astronaut came on June 28, when he spoke to Prime Minister Narendra Modi from space, with the Indian tricolour gently floating behind him. “That moment was powerful. It symbolised India’s return to global space conversations — as an equal,” he said.
The astronaut emphasized that the Axiom-4 mission had surpassed his expectations and would serve as a critical stepping stone for India’s upcoming Gaganyaan mission, the country’s maiden human spaceflight programme. “I was tasked with documenting everything we did on the space station, and I’ve done that diligently. All this learning will be instrumental for Gaganyaan,” Shukla said.
More than just a technical achievement, Shukla sees his mission as an inspirational milestone. “My role was not just that of a spacefarer but a messenger — to show young Indians what’s possible,” he said. “One of the most rewarding outcomes is that children are now asking how they can become astronauts. That spark of curiosity is exactly what this mission was meant to ignite.”
According to Shukla, the knowledge he gained spans not just scientific learning but the collective experience of decades of human space exploration. “I’ve been fortunate to receive and absorb that legacy, and I’m eager to pass it on.”
Shubhanshu Shukla is expected to return to India in mid-August, where he will debrief with ISRO officials and share his insights to further fuel India’s ambitious space goals.
