Latest news with #AxiomMission4
The Hindu
an hour ago
- Health
- The Hindu
Surprised to observe the pace with which our body can adjust to new settings, says astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla
Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, who is undergoing a week-long rehabilitation programme to mitigate any adverse effect of microgravity, has shared an update of his rehabilitation and said that he was 'surprised to observe the pace with which our body can adjust to new settings.' 'Received many messages' In a post on social media platform Instagram, Group Captain Shukla, who returned to earth on July 15 after spending 18 days in the International Space Station as part of the Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) mission, said that he received a lot of messages regarding his health and wishing him a speedy recovery. 'Experiencing microgravity our body goes through several changes like fluid shift, heart rate, balance readjustment, muscle loss. These are adaptations to the new environment. Once the body gets used to this and we return to gravity, these adjustments happen once again,' he said. 'Though it varies for all astronauts, the body soon starts adapting to its new environment. I was surprised to observe the pace with which our body can adjust to new settings,' he further added. After the splashdown off the coast of San Diego in the U.S. he was flown to Houston for a week-long rehabilitation programme to mitigate any adverse effect of microgravity.
Time of India
9 hours ago
- Science
- Time of India
Must watch: Group captain Shubhanshu Shukla shares video on relearning to walk after space mission
NEW DELHI: Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla , who recently returned to Earth from the International Space Station (ISS) after completing the Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4), has shared a glimpse of his post-space rehabilitation journey. In a video posted on social media, Shukla is seen relearning how to walk and engaging in physical exercises as part of his recovery from the effects of microgravity. In his social media post, Shukla wrote, "I have received a lot of messages regarding my health and wishing me speedy recovery. I want to thank you all and also give an update. Experiencing microgravity our body goes through several changes like fluid shift, heart rate, balance readjustment, muscle loss. These are adaptations to the new environment. Once the body gets used to this and we return to gravity, these adjustments happen once again. " "Though it varies for all astronauts, the body soon starts adapting to its new environment. I was surprised to observe the pace with which our body can adjust to new settings. In the pursuit of the unknown (space), you get to know more about yourself," he added. IAF group captain Shukla successfully piloted the Dragon spacecraft named Grace back to Earth, alongside his Ax-4 crewmates. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Cat Keeps Hugging its Friend - Then the Owner Notices Something is Wrong Tips and Tricks Undo The spacecraft splashed down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego on July 14 at 3:01 p.m. IST (2:31 a.m. PT), marking the end of their 18-day mission aboard the ISS. The crew had undocked from the orbital laboratory earlier that day. Group Captain Shukla made history by becoming the first Indian astronaut to visit the International Space Station. He is also among the chosen few set to fly on India's upcoming Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission, where he will officially earn the title of "Gaganaut." Back home, his family watched the livestream of the splashdown from Lucknow. His father, Shambhu Dayal Shukla, expressed pride and gratitude for his son's achievement and the support received from across the nation. "We are feeling great, that my son landed properly. He also came out of the dragon, this is a really good thing. Not only us, but for the whole country, he went on behalf of the country. Prime Minister has given him blessings and what is there for him has been only through the PM's efforts. I express my gratitude and thank him for this," he said. Shambhu Dayal also acknowledged the congratulatory messages received from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, defence minister Rajnath Singh, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath, and several other leaders. The Axiom-4 crew included Commander Peggy Whitson, European Space Agency astronaut Slawosz 'Suave' Uznanski-Wisniewski from Poland, and Hungarian astronaut Tibor Kapu of the HUNOR program. During their stay aboard the ISS, the team actively participated in scientific research and public outreach efforts. NASA confirmed that the Dragon spacecraft returned with over 580 pounds of cargo, including hardware and data from more than 60 scientific experiments conducted during the mission. The mission began on June 25 with a launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The spacecraft docked with the ISS on June 26 at 4:05 p.m. IST, earlier than scheduled, attaching to the station's Harmony module. SpaceX kept the public updated on the reentry process through posts on X (formerly Twitter), stating, "Dragon's deorbit burn is complete and the trunk has been jettisoned," and later confirming, "Dragon's nosecone is closed and secured for reentry. Splashdown in 26 minutes."
The Hindu
a day ago
- Science
- The Hindu
the week in five charts Air India crash report, Shubhanshu Shukla, rains in Himachal
(1) At least 72 people killed and over 470 roads closed as torrential rains ravage Himachal Since the onset of the monsoon on June 20, 72 people have died and 34 have gone missing in rain-related incidents across Himachal Pradesh. Of the 471 affected roads, the maximum (310) were in disaster-hit Mandi district, while 1,199 power distribution transformers and 676 water supply schemes have also been affected, according to the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC). A 'red' alert for very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall has been issued for Monday, July 21, for five of the 12 districts of the state, including Shimla, Kangra, Chamba, Sirmaur and Mandi. Since June 1, the State has received just 5% more rainfall than normal, but the situation remains exacerbated in certain districts, especially Mandi as of July 20. Since July 1, the district of Mandi has received 88% more rainfall than normal. Union Home Minister Amit Shah has directed the formation of a multi-sectoral central team in view of the rising frequency and intensity of natural disasters in Himachal Pradesh, an official statement said on Sunday (July 20, 2025). The team will include experts from the National Disaster Management Authority, Central Building Research Institute Roorkee, Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology Pune, Indian Institute of Technology Indore, and geologists, the statement said. (2) Shubhanshu Shukla returns to Earth Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla and his fellow crew members on the Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) returned to Earth on Tuesday afternoon (July 15, 2025), as their SpaceX Dragon splashed down at 3:02 p.m. IST. They returned from an 18-day sojourn on the International Space Station that was a first step for India's own ambitions for indigenous human spaceflight, with Mr. Shukla - a Group Captain in the Indian Air Force - selected as one of the Indian astronauts on the Gaganyaan Mission. The four astronauts flew to the space station on the Dragon after it was launched by the Falcon 9 from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on June 25. During the 20-day mission, the crew completed 320 orbits around the Earth, covering 8.4 million miles of spaceflight, Axiom Space said. They also completed over 60 research activities and 23 outreach events. The Ax-4 crew members departed from the orbiting laboratory on July 14. (3) Air India AI-171 crash: Report flags fuel cutoff error A preliminary report on the tragic crash of Air India flight AI-171, which went down shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad en route to London on June 12, 2025, was released by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB). The report highlighted confusion in the cockpit moments before the crash and raised fresh concerns over the positioning of the aircraft's critical engine fuel cutoff switches. On July 17, 2025, The Wall Street Journal, citing sources familiar with U.S. officials' early assessment of the evidence, reported that the captain may have cut off fuel supply to the engines. According to the report, the First Officer, who was piloting the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, questioned the captain moments after takeoff about his decision to move the fuel switches to the 'cutoff' position. With no fuel flowing to the engines, the aircraft began losing thrust. The report said the fuel switches were then returned to the 'run' position, prompting the aircraft to automatically attempt an engine restart. The pilots involved in the crash were Captain Sumeet Sabharwal and First Officer Clive Kunder, with total flying experience of 15,638 hours and 3,403 hours, respectively. AAIB, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, the Ministry of Civil Aviation, and Air India did not immediately respond to Reuters' requests for comment on the Wall Street Journal report. Boeing also declined to comment. The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA)-India said on Thursday (July 17, 2025) that the crew of AI-171 did everything they could to protect passengers and should be treated with respect rather than subjected to speculative criticism. The Indian Commercial Pilots' Association (ICPA), which represents narrow-body fleet pilots at Tata Group-owned Air India, had earlier stated on Sunday (July 13) that the crew acted in accordance with their training and responsibilities under difficult conditions, and should not be vilified based on conjecture. Meanwhile, U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Chair Jennifer Homendy said on Friday (July 18, 2025) that media reports about the AI-171 crash were 'premature and speculative.' (4) U.S. Supreme Court allows Trump to lay off nearly 1,400 Education Department employees The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday (July 14, 2025) cleared the way for President Donald Trump's administration to resume dismantling the Department of Education, part of his bid to shrink the federal government's role in education in favour of more control by the states. In the latest high court win for Mr. Trump, the justices lifted a federal judge's order that had reinstated nearly 1,400 workers affected by mass layoffs at the department and blocked the administration from transferring key functions to other federal agencies. A legal challenge is continuing to play out in lower courts. The court's action came in a brief, unsigned order. Its three liberal justices dissented. These layoffs add to a series of layoffs that have happened in the federal government ever since Mr. Trump assumed office on January 20 this year. A group of 21 Democratic attorneys general, school districts and unions behind a pair of legal challenges had warned in court papers that Mr. Trump's shutdown efforts threatened to impair the department's ability to perform its core duties. Created by Congress in 1979, the Department of Education's main roles include administering college loans, tracking student achievement and enforcing civil rights in schools. It also provides federal funding for needy districts and to help students with disabilities. Federal law prohibits the department from controlling school operations including curriculum, instruction and staffing. Authority over these decisions belongs to state and local governments, which provide more than 85% of public school funding. Mr. Trump in March directed that the department transfer its $1.6 trillion student loan portfolio to the Small Business Administration and its special education services to the Department of Health and Human Services. Although formally eliminating the department would require an act of Congress, the downsizing announced in March by Education Secretary Linda McMahon aimed to slash the department's staff to roughly half the size it was when Mr. Trump took office in January. (5) Last minute efforts to save Nimisha Priya The execution of Indian nurse Nimisha Priya, who is on death row at the Central Prison in Yemen's capital, Sanaa, for the alleged murder of a Yemeni national, has been postponed. It was scheduled to be carried out on Wednesday (July 16, 2025), official sources said on Tuesday (July 15, 2025). It is understood that negotiation is currently underway to settle the matter with the family of the victim, Talal Abdo Mahdi, though details of the negotiation is yet to be known. Nimisha Priya has been on the death row in Yemen since 2018 for a 2017 murder of her then business partner. An intervention by All India Jamiyyathul Ulama general secretary and Sunni leader Kanthapuram A.P. Aboobacker Musliar through his close friend and respected Yemeni Sufi scholar Sheikh Habib Omar bin Hafiz had positive results, with the Yemeni authorities postponing the July 16 execution of Nimisha Priya. Mr. Musliar said talks had been underway with Talal's family to persuade them to pardon Nimisha Priya, despite their strong desire for retribution. However, social media posts purportedly by Talal's brother Abdul Fatah Mahdi indicated the family's resolute stance on retribution as per the Islamic law rather than accepting the blood money and pardon Nimisha Priya. As the deadlock continues, the Indian government says it is in contact with 'local authorities' in Sanaa, as well as with some 'friendly governments' in the region to push for her release.
News18
a day ago
- Health
- News18
'Kaju Katli & One Tight Hug': Shubhanshu Shukla's Parents Await His Return To India On August 17
'All I need is just one tight hug…" – These heartfelt words from Shambhu Dayal Shukla, father of astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, seem enough to describe the emotion building quietly inside a modest home in Lucknow. After spending 18 days aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and nearly 35 days in post-mission rehabilitation in the US, Shubhanshu is expected to return to India on August 17. 'He's still in America… It's been a year since I hugged him," his father told News18, his voice filled with anticipation. Shubhanshu, who was part of the international Axiom Mission 4, launched on June 25 and docked with the ISS the next day. His return capsule splashed down safely off the California coast on July 15. But the return to Earth is not the same as a return to life. He is still re-learning to walk, move, and function as his body adapts back to Earth's gravity. 'He's learning to walk again' 'Walking is still a struggle," said his father. 'Every day, he practices for three to four hours. He has to walk slowly, and he gets dizzy if he overdoes it. Doctors say it will take 8 to 10 more days before he's fully recovered," his father said. Extended exposure to microgravity can weaken bones and muscles, disrupt balance, and alter cardiovascular function. Shubhanshu has been undergoing daily physiotherapy under medical supervision. In a recent social media post too, he wrote: 'Learning to walk again…" 'Just as your body changes when you go into space, it changes again when you come back. Even walking straight becomes difficult. Balance weakens. These effects cause mental stress too — but they're all temporary. The body slowly finds its rhythm again," he wrote. A mother waits with food — and emotion For his mother Asha Shukla, the countdown isn't to a landing capsule, but to the moment her son walks through the front door. 'He always says on video calls, 'I'm fine, don't worry,' but I can see the tiredness in his eyes. A mother knows," she said. To keep herself busy — and hopeful — she has taken refuge in her kitchen. 'I've already started planning what to cook for him. His favourite dishes — dal baati, kadhai paneer, matar pulao, kaju katli — I'm making everything. When he comes home, he shouldn't have to ask for anything," she said, with her eyes moist. 'Just watching him eat happily… that's the moment I'm living for," she said. A reunion that felt like home After landing, Shubhanshu briefly reunited with his wife Kamna and six-year-old son Kiaash in the US. Hugging Kamna and lifting Kiaash into his arms, he posted on Instagram: 'Space is magical. But reuniting with loved ones — that's equally magical. When I hugged my family, it felt like I was truly home again." He urged others to cherish their own bonds: 'Find someone you love today and tell them. We often get too busy with life and forget how important our people are. Space missions are magical — but it's people who make them magical." Yoga in space — a metaphor for balance A few days ago, Shubhanshu shared a video of himself performing yoga aboard the ISS. 'In the beginning, it was hard to stay still in microgravity. I just wanted to be centered, but even the tiniest movement would send me drifting," he wrote. Drawing parallels with daily life, he said, 'Staying still in space is an art — just like finding peace in a fast-paced world. Sometimes, to run fast, you must first slow down." Homecoming: Lucknow or Bengaluru? Shubhanshu will land in India on August 17, though it's not confirmed if he will directly come to Lucknow or stop first in Bengaluru, home to key Indian space institutions. 'If he doesn't come to Lucknow, we'll go to him," said his father. 'But I hope he walks through our front gate. Just one tight hug — that's all I need," he added. The city waits for its hero But it's not just the Shukla family counting down the days. Shubhanshu's entire locality in Lucknow — neighbours, childhood friends, schoolteachers — is buzzing with excitement. Streets where he once cycled to school are now draped in tricolour buntings. Children carry tiny flags, and families discuss plans to welcome 'their astronaut" with flowers, garlands, and dhols. Many residents in the area still remember the humble, soft-spoken boy who once dreamed of space. 'He's not just their son any more — he's all of ours," said a local shopkeeper, adding, 'We've never had anyone from here go that far, and now he's coming back." Even the city administration is considering a formal civic welcome, should he arrive in Lucknow. top videos View all From the narrow lanes of his childhood to the vast silence of space, Shubhanshu Shukla's journey has come full circle. And as the countdown to August 17 continues, not just a family — but an entire city — waits to embrace their son, their astronaut, their pride.
Deccan Herald
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Deccan Herald
'Being still is a challenge': Shubhanshu Shukla shares video of 'floating' inside International Space Station
Shuks doing tricks in space🥰🥹 First ever Indian on ISS and enjoying his time🥰🚀 We are now experiencing space time , all thanks to shuks🇮🇳🚀 #AxiomMission4 #isro
