Shubhanshu Shukla's breathtaking space photo leaves India emotional and proud
Shubhanshu Shukla
became the first Indian astronaut to board the International Space Station (ISS). His journey is not just a technological leap but also a deeply symbolic moment for India as the nation swells with pride for a growing presence in global space missions.
Shukla is only the second Indian to travel to space, after Rakesh Sharma in 1984.
Shukla had boarded as the mission pilot for Axiom Space's Ax-4 mission on June 25, 2025, along with three other crew members, including the veteran American astronaut Peggy Whitson, Polish scientist Sławosz Uznański, and Hungarian astronaut Tibor Kapu. The mission lifted off aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
After a 28-hour journey, the crew docked with the space station on June 26.
What has recently been making headlines are the photos released by the Indian government showing Shukla seated at the Cupola Module, a seven-window observation deck on the ISS, gazing at Earth.
The images quickly became viral and received multiple engagements on social media. The post's caption read, 'Gazing Down From The Space! Group Capt Shubhanshu Shukla enjoys the stunning panoramic view of Earth from the 7-windowed Cupola Module aboard the International Space Station.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
You Won't Believe the Price of These Dubai Apartments
Binghatti Developers FZE
Get Offer
Undo
It's been a remarkable journey as he marks a week in orbit, representing India among the stars.'
Shubhanshu Shukla had a video call with PM Narendra Modi
During his first week aboard the ISS, Shukla had a video call with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, where he shared his emotions upon seeing India from space. 'When I saw India for the first time from space, it appeared much larger and grander than on the map,' he said. 'You can truly feel the sense of oneness; there are no borders, no lines.
It feels as if this entire Earth is our home and we are all its citizens,' he told the Prime Minister, according to a Times of India report.
In response, PM Modi said, 'You may be far, but the hearts of 140 crore Indians beat with you. It's the start of a new era'.
What is the mission aimed at?
While in space, Shukla and his crewmates are conducting more than 60 scientific experiments, including studies in microgravity biology, materials science, and human health. According to India Today, Shukla is also the first Indian to carry out experiments aboard the International Space Station. His work in space ties in with India's upcoming Gaganyaan mission, which is set to launch in 2027.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Today
24 minutes ago
- India Today
These pictures show India's Shubhanshu Shukla is loving it in space
The Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) crew has crossed the halfway mark of their mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS), intensifying efforts to unravel the mysteries of life in microgravity and pave the way for future deep-space Pilot Shubhanshu 'Shux' Shukla is at the forefront of research into how microgravity accelerates muscle atrophy. Latest pictures show how he is enjoying his stay in zero gravity while working on the science sent from performing advanced microscopy and collecting cellular samples for the ongoing myogenesis study, Shux is helping scientists understand why muscle tissue deteriorates so rapidly in space. The Ax-4 crew is also contributing to the Wireless Acoustics project. (Photo: Axiom) Insights from this work are crucial for developing interventions to protect astronaut health during long-duration missions, such as those planned for UNDERWAYShux has also redeployed a culture bag for the Space Micro Algae experiment. Microalgae are being studied for their remarkable potential to support life beyond Earth—they can generate food, oxygen, and even in cultivating microalgae aboard the ISS could make them indispensable for future lunar and Martian outposts, providing sustainable life support and resource recycling. Ax-4 Pilot Shubhanshu Shukla carries out operations for the myogenesis study in the Life Sciences Glovebox aboard the International Space Station. (Photo: Axiom) The Ax-4 team, including Commander Peggy Whitson, Mission Specialists Sawosz 'Suave' Uznaski-Winiewski, and Tibor Kapu, has maintained a relentless pace of scientific activity:Tibor Kapu observed the Fruit Fly DNA Repair study, which examines how space radiation affects genetic integrity. Shubhanshu Shukla looking out of the cupola of the Space Station. (Photo: Axiom Space) By analysing how fruit fly DNA responds to the harsh conditions of orbit, researchers hope to develop strategies to shield human DNA from similar dangers during interplanetary crew contributed to the Wireless Acoustics project, evaluating a wearable acoustic monitor that measures sound levels throughout the station. This device is being assessed for comfort and accuracy, with its readings compared to those from traditional fixed sound meters. Shux testing his photography skills in space. (Photo: Axiom) Axiom added that a crewmember underwent an ultrasound scan as part of a project tracking cardiovascular and balance system changes. This study aims to enable real-time, AI-driven health monitoring for astronauts, with the potential to revolutionize healthcare both in space and on the Ax-4 mission progresses, the crew's dedication to research, technology demonstrations, and outreach continues to expand humanity's understanding of living and thriving beyond our home planet.- EndsTune InMust Watch
Time of India
39 minutes ago
- Time of India
Mars in just 15 years? European Space Agency's bold plan includes space cities and AI farmers
Image: ESA In an ambitious vision for the not-so-distant future, the European Space Agency (ESA) has unveiled a roadmap that could see humans living on Mars within just 15 years. The plan, outlined in ESA's new report 'Technology 2040: A Vision for the European Space Agency', imagines self-sustaining 'space oases', robotic farming systems, and autonomous infrastructure stretching across Mars, the Moon, and beyond. ESA emphasizes that space is no longer a frontier; it is a territory essential for scientific, economic, and environmental progress. The dream of becoming a multi-planetary species may now be closer to reality than ever. Life on Mars: Domes, droids, and self-sufficiency ESA envisions futuristic indoor habitats made of heat-reflective, radiation-shielding materials, where astronauts can live, work, and grow their own food. These 'space oases' will be equipped with smart sensors, autonomous AI systems, and robotic assistants to monitor the environment and handle daily tasks. The habitats aim to be entirely self-sustaining, creating power, recycling waste, and producing crops such as potatoes, rice, and leafy greens in controlled greenhouse modules. These systems would dramatically reduce the need for costly resupply missions from Earth and allow for long-term habitation on Mars. The European agency compares this vision to science-fiction but insists it's based on practical and scalable technologies already in development. Building a solar system economy Beyond Mars, ESA's 2040 roadmap includes manufacturing massive space structures such as satellites and telescopes directly in orbit or on celestial bodies like the Moon. This would overcome current limitations that force spacecraft to be small enough to fit inside launch vehicles. By assembling infrastructure in space, ESA hopes to unlock new commercial opportunities and scientific breakthroughs. The agency also proposes using space debris as raw material, embracing a circular economy model to reduce waste and create sustainable systems in orbit. Meanwhile, AI-powered spacecraft would manage themselves without human control, further accelerating space operations. Big dreams, bigger challenges While ESA's vision is inspiring, it acknowledges the technical and logistical hurdles ahead. No human has yet ventured beyond low Earth orbit in over five decades. Mars, with its harsh climate and 140 million mile distance from Earth, presents extreme challenges in transportation, radiation protection, and life support systems. However, ESA believes collaboration among nations, private companies, and technological pioneers like SpaceX could make this dream achievable. With support and sustained investment, the agency insists that the next giant leap for humankind could happen as soon as 2040.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Forget about the dentist appointment: THIS vitamin can prevent tooth decay by 50%
A recent review of historical clinical trials reveals a significant link between vitamin D and a reduced incidence of tooth decay, showing a potential 50% reduction in dental caries. The research, analyzing studies from the 1920s to 1980s, highlights vitamin D's crucial role in dental health, particularly for children. Getting a dentist appointment these days is not easy, let alone the money you have to spend to fix issues. Tooth decay is one of the most common dental problems that affects children and adults alike. But the treatment does not have to cost you an arm and a leg. What if tooth decay could be prevented with a simple, affordable nutrient? A study has found a link between tooth decay and vitamin deficiency. A review of historical clinical trials found that a certain vitamin lowers the rate of tooth decay. The study is published in Nutrition Reviews . Link between tooth decay and vitamin D The review found that vitamin D was linked with a 50 percent reduction in the incidence of dental caries. To understand the link between vitamin D and tooth decay, the researchers reviewed 24 controlled clinical trials, spanning the 1920s to the 1980s, on approximately 3,000 children in several countries. These trials pointed out that vitamin D was associated with an approximately 50 percent reduction in the incidence of tooth decay. "My main goal was to summarize the clinical trial database so that we could take a fresh look at this vitamin D question," Dr. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 2025 Top Trending local enterprise accounting software [Click Here] Esseps Learn More Undo Philippe Hujoel of the University of Washington, who conducted the review, said. What is vitamin D Vitamin D, also known as the 'sunshine vitamin,' is an essential nutrient. It is a fat-soluble nutrient that plays a crucial role in the body. From maintaining bone health, immune function, and mood regulation, vitamin D helps in many vital functions. Our body can naturally produce vitamin D when exposed to sunlight. When the skin is exposed to sunlight, it naturally makes vitamin D from cholesterol. The sun's ultraviolet B (UVB) rays interact with the cholesterol in skin cells and trigger the process of vitamin D synthesis. You can also get this nutrient from foods such as fatty fish (salmon, mackerel), egg yolks, and fortified foods (milk, orange juice). Vitamin D's role in preventing caries (Pic courtesy: iStock) Though vitamin D's role in supporting bone health has not been disputed, there has been a significant disagreement over its role in preventing caries, Hujoel noted. In 1950, the American Medical Association and the US National Research Council concluded that vitamin D was beneficial in managing dental caries. Later in 1989, the National Research Council, despite new evidence supporting vitamin D's caries-fighting benefits, called the issue 'unresolved. ' "Such inconsistent conclusions by different organizations do not make much sense from an evidence-based perspective," Hujoel said. The trials the team reviewed had increased vitamin D levels in children through UV radiation or by diet (cod liver oil or other products containing the vitamin). The trials they reviewed were conducted in the United States, Great Britain, Canada, Austria, New Zealand, and Sweden, and were held in institutional settings, schools, medical and dental practices, or hospitals. The participants were children or young adults between the ages of 2 and 16 years, with a weighted mean age of 10 years. 'Pretty Little Baby' Singer Connie Francis Hospitalised, Family Gives Health Update The findings from the University of Washington reaffirm the importance of vitamin D for dental health. Children who are vitamin D deficient have poor and delayed teeth eruption and are prone to dental caries,' Dr. Michael Hollick, professor of medicine at the Boston University Medical Center said. Studies have also found that Vitamin D deficiency is linked to dental caries in young children. "Whether this is more than just a coincidence is open to debate. In the meantime, pregnant women or young mothers can do little harm by realizing that vitamin D is essential to their offspring's health. Vitamin D does lead to teeth and bones that are better mineralized," Hujoel said. "One has to be careful with the interpretation of this systematic review. The trials had weaknesses which could have biased the result, and most of the trial participants lived in an era that differs profoundly from today's environment,' Hujoel added.
