Beyond sare jahan se achha: Shubhanshu Shukla ushers in India's new space age
Even in hindsight, it feels surreal. On Wednesday, an Indian was strapped into spacecraft atop a rocket and launched into space, with nine powerful rocket engines at the other end spitting fire, lifting him and his crewmates through the dense atmosphere of Earth on their journey to the International Space Station—orbiting our world at a distance of just over 400 km.advertisementGroup Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the designated pilot of the mission, became only the second Indian to have ever been to space— over 40 years after Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma breached Earth's gravity in 1984 aboard a Soyuz T-1.Significantly, astronaut Shukla is also the first Indian to have docked with the International Space Station.
The historic, technological, and operational significance of this mission cannot be understated. The Government of India and the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) have shown immense foresight in bringing this to reality through a strategic collaboration with NASA and the American private space-tech company Axiom Space. This partnership is symbolic of modern space exploration, where international cooperation and public-private partnerships are increasingly the norm.Groundwork for India's Human SpaceflightIndia has a long-term goal of achieving indigenous human spaceflight capabilities, as well as establishing an Indian space station in Earth's orbit. Isro is reconfiguring its most powerful launch vehicle, the LVM3, to meet the stringent human-rating requirements essential for the Gaganyaan Mission.advertisementFollowing Gaganyaan, the roadmap extends to the Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS), an Indian orbital outpost that will serve as a hub for research, technological development, and sustained human presence in space.However, crewed space missions are extraordinarily complex. They are not just technologically demanding, but operationally as well – from mission planning and astronaut training to life support systems management, and emergency response protocols; it demands extreme precision and redundancy. India needs to gather as much operational experience as it can before the planned Gaganyaan Mission.Missions like Group Captain Shukla's are invaluable stepping stones on this journey. Collaborations with other national space agencies and private partners are critical during this phase.Our Ax-4 crewmates made it safely aboard the @Space_Station today! It was a pleasure and an honor to monitor their approach and work the hatch opening.I also got a couple good photos as they caught up and approached from below the station!Welcome Peggy, Shux, Suave, and pic.twitter.com/aUxJsfJKy3— Nichole 'Vapor' Ayers (@Astro_Ayers) June 26, 2025For instance, after the careful selection of the four astronaut-designates – decorated Indian Air Force officers Prashanth Balakrishnan Nair, Ajit Krishnan, Angad Prathap, and Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla – India leveraged its strong diplomatic ties with Russia to provide them with extensive training at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre.advertisementThis included operating in zero-gravity conditions and survival training. They also underwent simulations in a centrifuge to expose them to the intense G-forces experienced during launch and re-entry, while hyperbaric chamber sessions prepared them for potential hypoxia (oxygen deprivation) and rapid pressure drops.Group Captain Shukla and backup Group Captain Nair later flew to NASA's Johnson Space Centre in Houston, Texas, to undergo mission-specific training. This included familiarisation sessions with the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft and various onboard systems of the International Space Station, as well as daily operational and communication protocols.These are invaluable experiences the astronauts will bring to the table as India configures its crew module and prepares for the Gaganyaan Mission. The exposure and learnings from the US, home to the world's largest space-tech industry, will also inform India's own growing private space-tech ecosystem.This cross-continental training regimen and mission expertise, spanning from Russia to the United States, is also a testament to India's unique international standing and approach to global collaboration.That this mission aboard a SpaceX rocket was realised through a partnership with Axiom Space, an organisation helmed by an Indian-origin CEO (Tejpaul Bhatia), adds another distinctly Indian connection to this endeavour.advertisementA Spark of Inspiration for Future GenerationsRakesh Sharma's historic flight in the 80s and his famous words, 'Sare Jahan Se Achha,' when asked by the then Prime Minister how India looked from space, are etched in the collective memory of the nation. It's a moment that has inspired many to become rocket scientists – including me.Group Captain Shukla's mission bridges the long intervening gap of over four decades, and represents India's strategic intent to become a self-reliant and leading player in near- and deep-space exploration.Shubhanshu Shukla first Indian in International Space StationMoment of triumph for Group Captain 'Shux'#ISS #ShubhanshuShukla #ITVideo #Ax4 #Super6 | @Akshita_N @imsktripathi pic.twitter.com/n3X6NY7hOu— IndiaToday (@IndiaToday) June 26, 2025Even as it gathers immense data and learnings for Isro to iterate and improve its Gaganyaan Mission, having a man in space — one of our own — will spark a flame of renewed inspiration and ambition within India's youth.Seeing an Indian astronaut amongst the stars once more will vividly demonstrate that audacious goals are achievable. India has lingered long enough on the shores of the cosmic ocean. We are now ready to set sail for the stars!(This is an authored article by Pawan Kumar Chandana. He is the Co-founder and CEO of Skyroot Aerospace)- EndsTune InMust Watch
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