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Watch the skies, Shux is passing by

Watch the skies, Shux is passing by

BENGALURU: Be alert, look up at the clear sky and track the live movement of the International Space Station (ISS). This has become the latest trend among many stargazers and astronomy enthusiasts, especially after India's first astronaut, Group Captain and mission pilot of Axiom-4 Shubhanshu Shukla, boarded the ISS.
Ever since Shukla docked into the ISS on June 26, there has been heightened excitement among astronomy enthusiasts and scientists. It has now caught the attention of citizens who are keen to watch and track the movement of the ISS overhead.
There was a lot of enthusiasm among Bengalureans and people across South India on July 5, for the ISS was clearly visible over the horizon and many even videographed it. "It was like a bright moving star slowly passing by," they said. The same was seen on Monday, when the ISS crossed the Indian Ocean around 7.07-7.10pm and Bengalureans were able to see it with the naked eye in the southern direction at a 15-degree elevation.
Experts from ISRO and Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium said the enthusiasm among citizens to see and track ISS has increased. There are many mobile applications that can be downloaded through Play Store on mobile phones to track the ISS' live location.
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‘Saare Jahan Se Accha…': Shubhanshu Shukla's speech from ISS rings out before the Axiom-4 farewell
‘Saare Jahan Se Accha…': Shubhanshu Shukla's speech from ISS rings out before the Axiom-4 farewell

Time of India

time41 minutes ago

  • Time of India

‘Saare Jahan Se Accha…': Shubhanshu Shukla's speech from ISS rings out before the Axiom-4 farewell

'Saare Jahan Se Accha…': Shubhanshu Shukla's speech from ISS rings out before the Axiom-4 farewell Late on 13 July, Indian Air Force Group Captain Shubhanshu 'Shux' Shukla floated inside the Destiny lab of the International Space Station , looked into a camera that beamed live across the world, and said, 'India still looks Saare Jahan Se Accha from space.' The words play on a line first spoken by Rakesh Sharma in 1984 and have echoed in India's collective memory ever since. Shukla's short but emotional message came just hours before NASA and Axiom Space hosted the official farewell for the Axiom-4 crew, who are scheduled to undock and head home after more than two weeks in orbit. The moment was patriotic, nostalgic, and quietly historic: only a handful of Indians have ever been on the ISS, and even fewer have had the chance to send such a greeting back to Earth. The speech sets the tone for Axiom-4's splashdown and reminds viewers that spaceflight is still, at its core, a very human story. Why Shubhanshu Shukla chose the 'Saare Jahan Se Accha' line The original phrase comes from the early-1900s Urdu poem Tarānah-e-Hind by Muhammad Iqbal. When Rakesh Sharma used it during his 1984 call with Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, the exchange became an instant piece of pop culture. Shukla's repetition links today's private-sector mission with that earlier milestone, creating a bridge between India's first view from space and its growing role in commercial astronautics. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Why seniors are rushing to get this Internet box – here's why! Techno Mag Learn More Undo Axiom-4 farewell ceremony: Timing, crew, live stream NASA and Axiom held the on-station farewell at 7:25 PM IST on 13 July. The stream ran on NASA TV and the agency's website, showing hugs between Expedition 73 residents and the departing private crew before hatch closure. Undocking is targeted for 14 July around 4:35 PM IST, with splashdown in the Atlantic roughly twelve hours later, weather permitting. Science goals: What the Axiom-4 astronauts did in 17 days During 250+ Earth orbits, the four-member team logged over 60 experiments. Highlights include: Microalgae growth in micro-g to test sustainable oxygen and food sources. Brain–computer interface trials evaluating how neural-signal decoding performs under radiation. Advanced centrifugation studies on fluid behaviour, useful for drug formulation. Shukla's contribution focused on materials research for high-temperature alloys, data that ISRO engineers say could feed into next-gen launch-vehicle nozzles. Cultural exchange in orbit: A small feast before goodbye The farewell wasn't all protocol. Each astronaut shared a dish from home. Shukla heated pouches of aam ras and carrot halwa; Polish crewmate Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski brought pierogi stuffed with cabbage and mushrooms. The quick meal underscored how even a cramped orbiting lab can feel like a family kitchen when departure looms. What's next for Shubhanshu Shukla after splashdown Medical checks in Florida are required within two hours of landing. Post-flight debrief at Axiom's Houston HQ to log experiment data. Public outreach tour across India, including a likely visit to the National Science Centre in Delhi. Government sources hint that Shukla may join India's own Gaganyaan training cadre as an adviser, bringing first-hand ISS experience to ISRO's human-spaceflight programme. Related FAQs 1. Who is Shubhanshu Shukla? He is an Indian Air Force Group Captain selected by Axiom Space as pilot for the private Axiom-4 mission; he trained at NASA's Johnson Space Center and became the first Indian to pilot a commercial spacecraft. 2. What does 'Saare Jahan Se Accha' mean? It translates roughly to 'better than the entire world' and is a patriotic line from Iqbal's famous poem praising India. 3. How can I watch the Axiom-4 splashdown? NASA TV will stream the de-orbit and recovery live on its website and YouTube channel starting about one hour before the scheduled landing time. 4. Did Shukla conduct any India-specific experiments? Yes. He led materials-science tests aimed at improving heat-resistant alloys, part of a collaboration between ISRO and Indian Institute of Science researchers. 5. Will the Axiom-4 capsule be reused? Axiom Space plans to refurbish Dragon Freedom for future commercial flights, following SpaceX's standard practice of multiple re-flight missions once safety checks are clear.

Magical journey onboard Space Station: Shux's homecoming message
Magical journey onboard Space Station: Shux's homecoming message

India Today

timean hour ago

  • India Today

Magical journey onboard Space Station: Shux's homecoming message

Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the Axiom-4 Mission pilot, is preparing to return to Earth after spending nearly two-and-a-half weeks onboard the International Space Station (ISS). In his farewell message on Sunday, Shux, as he is fondly called by his crewmates, thanked his colleagues as well as the ISS crew for making his stay at the orbiting laboratory memorable. "It was a magical journey onboard the ISS," Shux said. He also spoke about the experiments the Axiom-4 crew carried out on the Space Station and their implications for mankind. Taking a leaf out of his ideal Rakesh Sharma's book, Shux said that from space, India looks confident, fearless, ambitious, proud, and above all, Saare Jahaan Se Accha. Shubhanshu Shukla reached the ISS along with his Axiom-4 crewmates on a Falcon-9 rocket.

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