Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla's wife talks about school days, family ahead of ISS journey
Shubhanshu Shukla
is all set to lift off to space as the Group Captain of the Axiom-4 (
Ax-4
) mission on Tuesday for a two-week stay on the ISS.
The feat will not only be a milestone for India, but will be a new chapter in the life of Shukla, according to his wife.
In an exclusive interview to ToI days ahead of the launch from
Nasa
's Kennedy Space Centre, Kamna shared what the journey has meant to her as a partner, as a parent, and as someone who's known 'Shux' since childhood.
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She recalled that the dream of Shukla going to space began in early 2020. 'One of the criteria for Gaganyaan aspirants was that they had to be test pilots. It's such a small community that we were elated, because whoever it may be, he would be known to us. That small idea has become an incredible reality now.'
Shukla is a man of routine and resolve when at home. She shared the kind of man that he is. 'He loves his workouts, non-fiction books, to goof around with his six-year-old son. But when you talk about his fearlessness, he's taken immense risks. He left his life as a fighter pilot and stepped into the uncharted world of spaceflight. From making decisions in microseconds to doing delicate experiments in micrograms—it's a complete shift,' she said.
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However, her favourite version of 'Shax' is more about spirit and less about space. 'There's a never-say-never attitude in him that's very special. You'll often find him quoting Dory from Finding Nemo—just keep swimming. There may be a fire anywhere, but he focuses on solutions. That's his forte.'
Kamna said that the members of the AX-crew were now more than colleagues 'They call themselves friends for life. Their experience in microgravity will bind them forever. I'm so glad Shux found these friends—and all of them adore our son Sid.'
The story of the couple began in school, where the two were together since Class 3. She said that the two have been best friends. "I've known him as Gunjan, as Shubhanshu—the shy guy in our classroom—who's now inspiring so many people.'
However, marriage to a man on such a path meant that there has been distance and missed milestones. Kamna said that Shux missing their son, Sid's early childhood is painful for him.
She has learnt to cope with these thing by embracing excitement over anxiety, she said.
She said Sid is still too young to fully grasp what's unfolding. 'It's all just exciting for him. He thinks everyone's father is an astronaut. When we visited Nasa, he was thrilled to see rockets and suits.
'I'd tell him his father was the chosen one. Lucky to represent his beautiful country and its 1.4 billion people. Fortune favours the brave, and Shux is the bravest person I know. He left his love for flying to enter an unknown territory. He reaches for the stars—and yet, he remains grounded.'
For Kamna, the launch is like every other take-off in a fighter pilot's life. 'I never attended his take-offs. Out of sight, out of mind—that's how I cope. I haven't thought about the launch day. We go with the flow. We're filled with gratitude. We'll take it as it comes.'
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