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NDTV
3 days ago
- Science
- NDTV
Earth Looks One From Space: Shubhanshu Shukla's Quote Features In New NCERT Book
New Delhi: Shubhanshu Shukla, who became the first Indian to reach the International Space Station (ISS), is now featured in the newly released NCERT Class 5 Environmental Studies textbook with his awe-inspiring words about Earth from space. Group Captain Shukla, who completed an 18-day mission aboard the ISS on July 15, described how Earth appeared to him from space. "After seeing Earth from outside, the first thought that came to mind was that Earth looks completely one; no border is visible from outside. It seems that no border exists, no state exists, no countries exist. We all are part of humanity, and the Earth is our one home, and all of us are in it," The book, titled "Our Wondrous World," has quoted him saying under the chapter "Earth, Our Shared Home". The quote was part of his conversation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and now aims to inspire young minds to think beyond boundaries and embrace unity. Group Captain Shukla, a 39-year-old Indian Air Force officer and test pilot, completed his maiden space voyage as part of the Axiom-4 mission, a commercial spaceflight supported by ISRO and NASA, and operated by Axiom Space. The journey marked a milestone for India: He is the first Indian to step aboard the ISS and only the second Indian to go into space, following Rakesh Sharma's iconic flight in 1984. Born on October 10, 1985-just a year after Sharma's spaceflight-Shukla grew up in Lucknow in a middle-class family with no direct links to aviation or space. But a childhood visit to an airshow lit a spark. After several postponements, Group Captain Shukla finally launched from the Kennedy Space Center on June 25, aboard SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft atop a Falcon 9 rocket. Ten minutes into the mission, the Dragon capsule entered orbit, prompting Shukla to declare in Hindi, "Kamaal ki ride thi" ("It was a great ride") and share his sense of national pride. Group Captain Shukla returned after spending an 18-day stay aboard the International Space Station. The textbook, developed under the framework of the National Education Policy 2020, is part of a new integrated approach to learning that merges science, social science and environmental studies. Part of the The World Around Us series, the book aims to cultivate observation, ethical reasoning and environmental awareness in young learners. Alongside Group Captain Shukla's reflections, the textbook introduces innovative systems such as DIGIPIN, a digital address identifier for precise location mapping. It also includes content on oral health safety, microbial life, flood preparedness, and food preservation techniques.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Science
- Time of India
Earth looks one from space, no border exists: Shubhanshu Shukla's quote featured in new NCERT book
Shubhanshu Shukla , who became the first Indian to reach the International Space Station (ISS), is now featured in the newly released NCERT Class 5 Environmental Studies textbook with his awe-inspiring words about Earth from space . Shukla, who completed an 18-day mission aboard the ISS on July 15, described how Earth appeared to him from space. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category MBA MCA Others Cybersecurity Leadership CXO Project Management Healthcare Management Data Analytics Data Science Product Management Operations Management Data Science PGDM healthcare Digital Marketing Public Policy Design Thinking Technology others Finance Degree Artificial Intelligence Skills you'll gain: Analytical Skills Financial Literacy Leadership and Management Skills Strategic Thinking Duration: 24 Months Vellore Institute of Technology VIT Online MBA Starts on Aug 14, 2024 Get Details Skills you'll gain: Financial Management Team Leadership & Collaboration Financial Reporting & Analysis Advocacy Strategies for Leadership Duration: 18 Months UMass Global Master of Business Administration (MBA) Starts on May 13, 2024 Get Details "After seeing Earth from outside, the first thought that came to mind was that Earth looks completely one; no border is visible from outside. It seems that no border exists, no state exists, no countries exist. We all are part of humanity, and the Earth is our one home, and all of us are in it," the book, titled "Our Wondrous World," has quoted him saying under the chapter "Earth, Our Shared Home". by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Even Beautiful Women Have Their 'Oops' Moments Read More Undo The quote was part of his conversation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and now aims to inspire young minds to think beyond boundaries and embrace unity. Group Captain Shukla, a 39-year-old Indian Air Force officer and test pilot, completed his maiden space voyage as part of the Axiom-4 mission , a commercial spaceflight supported by ISRO and NASA , and operated by Axiom Space. Live Events The journey marked a milestone for India: Shukla is the first Indian to step aboard the ISS and only the second Indian to go into space, following Rakesh Sharma's iconic flight in 1984. Born on October 10, 1985-just a year after Sharma's spaceflight-Shukla grew up in Lucknow in a middle-class family with no direct links to aviation or space. But a childhood visit to an airshow lit a spark. After several postponements, Shukla finally launched from the Kennedy Space Center on June 25, aboard SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft atop a Falcon 9 rocket. Ten minutes into the mission, the Dragon capsule entered orbit, prompting Shukla to declare in Hindi, "Kamaal ki ride thi" ("It was a great ride") and share his sense of national pride. Shukla returned after spending an 18-day stay aboard the International Space Station. The textbook, developed under the framework of the National Education Policy 2020 , is part of a new integrated approach to learning that merges science, social science and environmental studies. Part of the The World Around Us series, the book aims to cultivate observation, ethical reasoning and environmental awareness in young learners. Alongside Shukla's reflections, the textbook introduces innovative systems such as DIGIPIN, a digital address identifier for precise location mapping. It also includes content on oral health safety, microbial life, flood preparedness, and food preservation techniques.
Indian Express
3 days ago
- Science
- Indian Express
Earth looks one from space, no border exists: Shubhanshu Shukla's quote featured in new NCERT book
Shubhanshu Shukla, who became the first Indian to reach the International Space Station (ISS), is now featured in the newly released NCERT Class 5 Environmental Studies textbook with his awe-inspiring words about Earth from space. Shukla, who completed an 18-day mission aboard the ISS on July 15, described how Earth appeared to him from space. 'After seeing Earth from outside, the first thought that came to mind was that Earth looks completely one; no border is visible from outside. It seems that no border exists, no state exists, no countries exist. We all are part of humanity, and the Earth is our one home, and all of us are in it,' the book, titled 'Our Wondrous World,' has quoted him saying under the chapter 'Earth, Our Shared Home'. The quote was part of his conversation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and now aims to inspire young minds to think beyond boundaries and embrace unity. Group Captain Shukla, a 39-year-old Indian Air Force officer and test pilot, completed his maiden space voyage as part of the Axiom-4 mission, a commercial spaceflight supported by ISRO and NASA, and operated by Axiom Space. The journey marked a milestone for India: Shukla is the first Indian to step aboard the ISS and only the second Indian to go into space, following Rakesh Sharma's iconic flight in 1984. Born on October 10, 1985—just a year after Sharma's spaceflight—Shukla grew up in Lucknow in a middle-class family with no direct links to aviation or space. But a childhood visit to an airshow lit a spark. After several postponements, Shukla finally launched from the Kennedy Space Center on June 25, aboard SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft atop a Falcon 9 rocket. Ten minutes into the mission, the Dragon capsule entered orbit, prompting Shukla to declare in Hindi, 'Kamaal ki ride thi' ('It was a great ride') and share his sense of national pride. Shukla returned after spending an 18-day stay aboard the International Space Station. The textbook, developed under the framework of the National Education Policy 2020, is part of a new integrated approach to learning that merges science, social science and environmental studies. Part of the The World Around Us series, the book aims to cultivate observation, ethical reasoning and environmental awareness in young learners. Alongside Shukla's reflections, the textbook introduces innovative systems such as DIGIPIN, a digital address identifier for precise location mapping. It also includes content on oral health safety, microbial life, flood preparedness, and food preservation techniques.
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Privately funded crew returns to Earth after space station visit
America's most experienced astronaut and three international crewmates plunged back to Earth aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule early Tuesday, closing out a 20-day commercial flight to the International Space Station with a foggy Pacific Ocean splashdown. Retired NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, the U.S. record holder for time in space, Indian test pilot Shubhanshu Shukla, Polish astronaut Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski and Hungarian engineer Tibor Kapu undocked from the space station early Monday. After nearly a full day coasting around the planet while waiting for the orbit to line up with the reentry trajectory, the Crew Dragon's forward Draco thrusters fired for nearly 18 minutes starting at 4:37 a.m. EDT Tuesday to drop the ship out of orbit. Plunging back into the discernible atmosphere on a northwest-to-southeast trajectory, the capsule rapidly decelerated in a blaze of reentry heating before parachutes deployed to lower the ship to a gentle splashdown just west of San Diego at 5:31 a.m. Over the next hour, SpaceX support crews "safed" the Crew Dragon, hauling it aboard the recovery ship Shannon, opening the side hatch and helping the returning fliers out of the spacecraft as they began readjusting to gravity after their three-week sojourn in weightlessness. All four appeared healthy and in good spirits, smiling and waving as they exited. This was the fourth so-called "private astronaut mission" to the International Space Station sponsored by Houston-based Axiom Space, which works with NASA to provide privately funded research trips to the station. The company charges up to $70 million or so per seat to carry non-NASA astronauts, professional researchers and others to the space station who might otherwise have no other route to orbit. Axiom Space is using the missions to gain experience as the company presses ahead with plans to build a commercial space station that will provide a destination in low-Earth orbit for NASA and other nations after the International Space Station is retired in 2030. Throughout their two-week mission, Whitson and her crewmates carried out a full slate of science research and technology demonstrations, along with interactive educational events with students and others in the crew's home countries. Researchers from 31 countries are helping evaluate data from the Ax-4 experiments and technology demonstrations. Whitson, a retired NASA astronaut, is the most experienced American space flier, with 695 days and six hours and 48 minutes in orbit during five spaceflights — three for NASA and two for Axiom Space. She now ranks eighth in the world for most time in space behind seven Russian cosmonauts. She also logged 10 spacewalks during her earlier flights, making her the most experienced female spacewalker and seventh in the world overall. Trump pushes senators to make $9.4 trillion in spending cuts Waltz faces questions about Signal group chat leak in confirmation hearing for U.N. ambassador Watch: Trump takes questions on Pam Bondi, the Epstein files, inflation, Russia and more
News18
16-07-2025
- Science
- News18
How Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla Survived 2000°C Fireball
The PICA-X heat shield and insulation keep the inside temperature at 25–30°C as the outer layer burns and peels off during re-entry, protecting astronauts from extreme heat The Crew Dragon spacecraft of the Axiom-4 mission landed safely in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego, California, despite its charred appearance. Upon re-entering Earth's atmosphere, the spacecraft encountered extreme temperatures ranging from 1600 to 2000 degrees Celsius, leading to an external fire. Astronauts Shubhanshu Shukla and his three crewmates witnessed the flames through the windows but remained unharmed, as did the spacecraft itself. Such high temperatures, between 1000 to 2000 degrees Celsius, indicate an intense and destructive fire capable of turning wood, plastic, cloth, and most organic matter to ashes instantly. Metals begin to melt, and human exposure for even a few seconds could be fatal. However, the Crew Dragon spacecraft, designed with advanced technology, withstood these conditions. What Caused The Fire? When the spacecraft re-enters Earth's atmosphere from space, it travels at around 27,000 km/h. At this speed, it collides with the upper atmospheric layers, generating extreme friction. How Hot Does It Get During Re-Entry? The friction causes atmospheric molecules to collide with the spacecraft, generating intense heat and triggering fire. The outer surface temperature can reach 1,600°C to 2,000°C. However, the spacecraft withstands these extreme conditions thanks to its advanced heat-resistant technology. How Does It Survive Extreme Heat? To protect against this, the spacecraft is equipped with a special heat shield known as PICA-X (Phenolic Impregnated Carbon Ablator). This material absorbs and burns away under extreme heat, gradually shedding its surface to maintain a safe internal temperature. Why It Returns Burnt When the spacecraft lands on Earth, its outer surface, especially the heat shield, appears burnt, blackened, and worn in several areas. This is an intentional part of the Crew Dragon capsule's design and advanced technology, which ensures the vehicle remains intact. Just as any object falling at high speed while burning would show signs of scorching, the same happens with Crew Dragon during re-entry. Enters Atmosphere At A Precise Angle To prevent excessive heat buildup during re-entry, a de-orbit burn is performed to reduce the capsule's speed. In this process, onboard thrusters are used to control the spacecraft's velocity, ensuring it enters Earth's atmosphere at the correct angle and speed to minimise friction-induced heat. Shubhanshu Shukla's spacecraft successfully completed this maneuver after separating from the International Space Station (ISS) on July 14, 2025. As the capsule descends into the lower layers of the atmosphere, the heat begins to subside. At this stage, four parachutes deploy, slowing the spacecraft and preparing it for a safe splashdown in the Pacific Ocean. What Happens Inside During Re-Entry Fire? The PICA-X heat shield and multi-layer insulation maintain the internal temperature between 25°C and 30°C, ensuring a safe and comfortable environment for the astronauts. As the heat shield burns, it gradually sheds its outer surface to release heat. Beneath it, a layered thermal insulation system prevents the remaining heat from penetrating the capsule. The astronauts inside remain unaffected by the extreme conditions outside. Will The Heat Shield Be Used Again? The heat shield will be reinstalled for the next mission. SpaceX has designed the Crew Dragon spacecraft for multiple reuses, including its capsule structure and key systems. After landing, the spacecraft is thoroughly inspected to determine which parts are reusable. The burnt outer layer of the heat shield is fully removed, and a new PICA-X shield is fitted in its place. Why Doesn't A Spacecraft Catch Fire During Launch? The rocket gradually gains speed during launch. In the initial seconds, the atmosphere is dense but the rocket's speed is relatively low. As altitude increases, the atmosphere thins and the rocket accelerates. view comments First Published: July 16, 2025, 15:12 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
