What Happens When An Astronaut Comes Home? Shubhanshu Shukla Shares His Gravity Shock
Shukla and his Axiom-4 crew members, who took off from Kennedy Space Centre in Florida on June 25 and landed on Earth on July 15, interacted with the media online, reminiscing about their experience on the mission. This was a historic event for India, as Shukla became the second Indian to travel to space, after Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma's trailblazing journey in 1984.
VIDEO | "I remember the homework our PM had given me and I have completed it very well," says Indian Astronaut, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the mission pilot for Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4). (Source - Third party)
(Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/A4OmR09Cul — Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 1, 2025
"Back in space after 41 years, a Bharatiya, but not a single jump this time. It was the launch of India's second orbit. And this time, we are prepared, not to fly, but to lead," declared Shukla, underlining the re-entry of India in space exploration.
For Lucknow native Shukla, a highlight was his meeting with the "Prime Minister of Bharat" on June 28, with the Indian flag visibly drifting behind him. He termed this as a watershed moment marking India's re-entry into international space chatter as an equal contributor.
The astronaut spoke openly about having to re-adjust to the gravitational pull of the Earth. He remembered his mobile phone feeling "heavy" when a colleague asked for a photo, a sharp contrast to its weightlessness in space. In a second funny story, he remembered dropping his laptop near the bed, expecting it to float. "Fortunately, the floor was carpeted, so no harm was done," he laughed.
As for the Axiom-4 mission itself, Shukla explained that it "surpassed his expectations" and offered priceless learning experiences that will be invaluable to India's future Gaganyaan mission. He considered his mission to be more than simply that of a spacefarer, envisioning himself as a "messenger demonstrating what's achievable."
Shukla, who is expected to return to India in mid-August, said that he religiously did all "homework" that Prime Minister Modi gave him while he was on the space station, including keeping a careful record of all details of the mission. He was keen to offer his recorded insights, sure that this information "is going to prove extremely useful and crucial for our own Gaganyaan mission."
Emphasising the wider mission of these space missions, Shukla pointed to their principal aim: to encourage the next generation and inculcate them with the confidence that they too can be explorers. He pointed to the mission's initial success in this respect, with children already asking for ways to become astronauts.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Deccan Herald
an hour ago
- Deccan Herald
Single mutation in gene likely linked to sudden heart attacks, say Bengaluru scientists
Dr Dhandapany Perundurai and his team at the institute screened roughly 20,000 to 25,000 genes in Indian patients with primary cardiomyopathy.
Mint
an hour ago
- Mint
NASA to build nuclear reactor on the moon to stop China's space grab: Report
Interim NASA Administrator and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy will announce expedited plans to build a nuclear reactor on the Moon, marking his first major policy move at NASA, Politico reported, citing internal documents. While NASA has long discussed the potential of nuclear energy on the lunar surface, Duffy's plan sets a definitive timeline for a 100-kilowatt nuclear reactor to be operational by 2030, according to documents obtained by Politico. Previously, NASA had funded work on a smaller 40-kilowatt system. The directive, set to be released this week, orders the space agency to solicit proposals from the private sector and designate a project leader within 60 days. The push comes amid growing concerns about China and Russia's collaborative lunar base project and their potential to establish dominance in space. The internal directive reportedly warns that the first country to deploy a reactor on the moon could establish a 'keep-out zone', limiting access for rivals like the US. This geopolitical concern is driving the administration's aggressive timeline. The news outlet notes that China plans to land astronauts on the Moon around 2030 — the same target date for the US reactor. In addition to the lunar reactor, Duffy's directive reportedly calls for accelerating the replacement of the aging International Space Station (ISS). According to Politico, NASA aims to award contracts to at least two commercial space station developers within six months of issuing a formal request. NASA's goal is to have a commercial station in orbit by 2030, thereby avoiding a lapse that would leave China's Tiangong as the only permanently crewed space station.
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
Who is Manjul Bhargava? The Indian-origin math genius nurtured by Harvard, mentored at Princeton
At first glance, Manjul Bhargava's story reads like that of many Indian-origin overachievers in the academic world. But look closer, and his journey reveals a rare blend of intellectual brilliance, deep cultural grounding, and boundary-breaking curiosity. From mastering high school mathematics by the age of 14 to winning the Fields Medal, the most prestigious prize in mathematics, Bhargava has followed an educational path that is both elite and deeply personal. A childhood steeped in math and music Born on August 8, 1974, in Hamilton, Ontario, to Indian parents, Bhargava grew up in Long Island, New York, where his mathematical talents became evident early. His mother, Mira Bhargava, a mathematics professor at Hofstra University, was his first teacher. She introduced him to mathematical ideas not just through textbooks, but through puzzles and patterns. By age 14, Bhargava had completed his school's full curriculum in math and computer science. But he wasn't just a numbers kid. He also studied tabla under masters like Zakir Hussain and learned Sanskrit poetry from his grandfather, Purushottam Lal Bhargava—experiences that shaped his uniquely creative and interdisciplinary way of thinking. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Brain tumor has left my son feeling miserable; please help! Donate For Health Donate Now Undo Harvard : Where talent met opportunity After graduating as valedictorian from Plainedge High School, Bhargava went on to Harvard University, where he earned his AB in mathematics in 1996. Harvard gave him not only academic rigor but also the freedom to explore advanced mathematical research as an undergraduate. His work during this time was already groundbreaking. He discovered new mathematical structures and submitted original research, earning him the 1996 Morgan Prize—the highest award for an undergraduate in mathematics in North America. Princeton: The place that shaped his research identity Bhargava pursued his PhD at Princeton University, where he studied under Sir Andrew Wiles, famed for solving Fermat's Last Theorem. This period proved transformational. His doctoral thesis, Higher Composition Laws , reimagined 200-year-old ideas from Gauss and offered powerful new tools in number theory. Bhargava's work during his PhD not only earned widespread academic acclaim but also set the foundation for a career filled with pioneering discoveries. Princeton recognized his brilliance early and appointed him a tenured full professor by age 29—an extraordinary milestone in academia. A career defined by curiosity and creativity Bhargava's post-doctoral years were marked by rapid-fire breakthroughs. He developed 14 new composition laws, offered new proofs of classical theorems like the 15 and 290 Theorems, introduced the Bhargava factorial, and co-authored proofs that advanced the understanding of elliptic curves—key to both pure mathematics and cryptography. In 2014, he received the Fields Medal for 'developing powerful new methods in the geometry of numbers.' The award confirmed what the math world had long known: Bhargava was not just a gifted problem-solver, but a thinker capable of reshaping entire domains. Bridging worlds: India, the West, and everything in between Although based at Princeton, Bhargava maintains strong ties with India. He holds adjunct appointments at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, IIT Bombay, and the University of Hyderabad. His work reflects a global perspective—rooted in Indian tradition, shaped by American education, and respected across continents. He served on the Padma Awards Committee in 2023, highlighting his growing role in shaping Indian scientific policy and recognition. What students can learn from Bhargava's path Manjul Bhargava's life is a lesson in how education is not just about prestige—it's about passion. From Harvard's lecture halls to Princeton's research labs, what carried him forward was not just intelligence, but the joy of exploration. He blended disciplines, embraced his heritage, and never lost his sense of wonder. For students in India and across the globe, Bhargava's path is an inspiring reminder: deep curiosity, nurtured by strong mentorship and an open mind, can lead not only to personal success but to discoveries that change the world. TOI Education is on WhatsApp now. Follow us here . Ready to navigate global policies? Secure your overseas future. Get expert guidance now!
