Being still is a challenge: Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla reflects on life aboard the ISS

Time of India

2 days ago

Shubhanshu Shukla
, India's second astronaut in space and the first to reach the
International Space Station
, recently posted a video that captured something unexpectedly powerful: the struggle to be still.
In the footage, shared on Instagram, Shukla is seen floating cross-legged inside the ISS, gently nudging himself into position in the calm silence of microgravity. He wasn't doing an experiment. He was trying to stay completely still.
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"This video was a few days into the mission when I finally had better control over my movements. What I wanted to do was to be just still - but clearly failed," Shukla wrote.
Back to Earth after 18 days in orbit
On 15 July, Shukla and his Axiom-4 crew returned to Earth after spending 18 days in space. The
SpaceX Dragon capsule
, named Grace, splashed down safely off the coast of San Diego at 2:31 am Pacific Time (3:01 pm IST).
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The mission marked a significant milestone for India. Shukla became the first Indian to reach the ISS and only the second Indian in space, nearly 40 years after Rakesh Sharma's historic flight in 1984.
Shukla was designated pilot on the
Axiom-4 mission
. His role wasn't just ceremonial. Along with three international astronauts, he participated in over 60 scientific experiments from 31 countries. Of those, seven were led by ISRO.
Seven experiments, one Indian astronaut
ISRO confirmed that Shukla completed all assigned tasks during the mission. These included studies on muscle regeneration, algae cultivation, crop resilience, tardigrades, seed germination, the effects of radiation, and human physiology.
The Indian space agency called his work a 'significant milestone' in the mission's success.
Before returning home, the Axiom-4 team underwent health checks on the recovery vessel and were later flown back to land by helicopter. For the Lucknow-born Group Captain, the mission was over. But his reflection on the experience is still resonating with many.
What stillness means in Space and on Earth
In his Instagram caption, Shukla shared more than just a technical insight. He spoke plainly about how difficult it is to remain still in space — and how that echoes life on Earth.
"From the time we reached the ISS, we were quite busy chasing the timeline and completing our tasks and experiments. It is a bit challenging initially, as you are learning to move in microgravity and also getting to know the station."
"Any small disturbance can move your body in space, and it takes skill to be completely still. Kind of like our minds in this fast-moving world. Take some time to be still today. It is important to sometimes slow down to be fast. Apparently, being still is a challenge - with or without gravity," he wrote.
India's growing space footprint
The Axiom-4 mission was run by private company Axiom Space, based in the United States, but it highlighted India's increasing contribution to global space missions.
While ISRO remains focused on national programmes, Indian participation in commercial missions like Ax-4 suggests new directions ahead. Shukla's journey may inspire a generation of scientists and pilots to look beyond the Earth — and to understand that even in space, introspection has value.
What stands out isn't just the science. It's the human moment. A pilot, a soldier, floating 400 kilometres above the Earth, learning the difficulty of stillness — and urging the rest of us to try.