Returning to Earth after a historic mission to the International Space Station (ISS), Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla experienced a profound, yet simple, reminder of gravity. On his first evening back, while catching up on emails, he pushed his laptop aside only to watch it fall. That instant, he said, highlighted the incredible adaptability of the human mind, which had fully rewired itself for the weightlessness of space.
From IAF to ISS: A 41-Year Wait Ends
Shukla, who hails from a modest background and was commissioned into the Indian Air Force in 2006, shared his extraordinary journey with a captivated audience at the India Science Festival held at IISER Pune on Saturday. His mission was monumental, representing India's return to human spaceflight after a gap of 41 years and three months since Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma's iconic flight in 1984.
"It took India over four decades to send another human to space," Shukla stated. "But the next time won't take as long. We will launch from India, on an Indian rocket, in an Indian capsule—and bring our astronaut back safely." His words underscored a new, confident chapter for the nation's space ambitions.
A View That Rewires Perception
The audience was treated to stunning visuals from his time in orbit. Shukla showed the Earth's curved horizon glowing with a green hue from oxygen atoms, the brilliantly lit outline of India, the sweeping Himalayan range, dazzling purple lightning storms, and radiant blue sunrises against a star-filled sky.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" he asked. "Now imagine seeing this view 16 times every day. It changes how you look at everything." He described the launch as an experience that shattered all preconceptions, with vibrations so intense they shook every bone. In a mere eight-and-a-half minutes, the spacecraft accelerated from zero to 28,500 kilometers per hour.
Life in Microgravity and the Journey Home
Shukla detailed the intense physical demands, explaining that during the high G-forces of launch, "you can't inhale, only exhale. You breathe using your stomach." He emphasized that this is why years of rigorous training are non-negotiable for astronauts.
The sudden cut-off of engines marked the entry into microgravity. "Your body lifts off the seat. Hands and legs float. We release a small toy to confirm weightlessness. That moment tells you: you're in space," he recounted. His own mind took time to adapt; he once hesitated to cross a module until realizing he could simply walk on the ceiling.
His body underwent dramatic changes: fluids shifted towards his head causing facial swelling, his spine elongated making him temporarily 6 cm taller, his appetite diminished, and muscles weakened. Despite these challenges, he found an unexpected sense of calm in space. The return to Earth was equally demanding, requiring days of rehabilitation to relearn how to stand and walk against gravity.
Dreaming Audaciously: India's Cosmic Future
Shukla framed his mission as just the beginning. He outlined the roadmap ahead, which includes the Gaganyaan missions, plans for an Indian space station, and a targeted human landing on the Moon by 2040.
His closing message was one of inspiration, especially for the young minds in the audience. "Who knows, one of you sitting here today could be the first Indian to walk on the Moon. So dream big. Dream audaciously. Because the sky was never the limit, not for me, not for you, and not for India." His words were met with thunderous applause, echoing the renewed excitement for India's journey among the stars.
