Florida [US], July 8 (ANI): Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the first Indian to reach the International Space Station (ISS), shared his reflections from orbit, calling the experience “a wonderful ride” and a rare privilege.
“It is a privilege to be among the few who have got the chance to see the Earth from a vantage point that I have been able to see now. It has been a wonderful ride,” Shukla said, as Axiom Space highlighted the significance of its Ax-4 mission.
In a post on X, Axiom Space wrote, “Hear from the #Ax4 astronauts about the significance of the mission and how we are expanding access to LEO for countries to pursue their space exploration goals, leading to advancements #ForEarth. We are building era-defining space infrastructure that drives exploration and fuels a vibrant space economy for the benefit of every human everywhere.”
Emphasizing global collaboration, Axiom tagged key partners, including the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), the European Space Agency (ESA), Poland’s space agency POLSA, and the Polish Ministry of Development and Technology, calling the Ax-4 mission “a step forward for humanity.”
Earlier, on July 4, Shukla spoke to students at the UR Rao Satellite Centre (URSC) in Karnataka via ham radio, offering a glimpse into life aboard the ISS and underscoring the role of international cooperation.
Speaking from orbit, Shukla described his experience of living and working in space, highlighting the physical challenges, the awe of observing Earth, and the camaraderie with crew members from the United States, Poland, and Hungary.
“International collaboration is key for the success of missions like the ISS and space. Even for our mission Axiom 4, agencies like ISRO, NASA, SpaceX, Axiom… everyone is coming together to make this mission happen,” he said.
He recounted moments of cultural exchange aboard the ISS, including sharing traditional Indian delicacies with fellow astronauts. “I was able to bring three different types of food… That was aam ras, gajar ka halwa, and moong dal ka halwa. I must tell you everybody here loved it,” he said, noting that the crew appreciated the unique flavors.
Describing the atmosphere on board, Shukla remarked, “Working with people from many different countries and nationalities, the entire experience is very, very exciting.” However, he acknowledged the physical toll and challenges of resting, saying, “The most difficult task is to go to sleep because of the excitement all around… But you need to take rest.”
Reflecting on the view from space, Shukla said, “The most exciting part of being in space is looking back at Earth from such an advantageous point. It makes you realize how fortunate you are to be on this planet.”
Shukla, who became the second Indian in space after Rakesh Sharma, launched on June 25 from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket. As Mission Pilot of Axiom Mission 4, he helped pilot the Dragon spacecraft, which docked autonomously with the ISS on June 26 at 4:05 p.m. (IST).
Shukla and the Ax-4 crew were welcomed by the seven-member Expedition 73 team and began their mission with a safety briefing.
The Ax-4 crew comprises former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, ISRO’s Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, ESA astronaut Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski of Poland, and Tibor Kapu of Hungary. They are expected to remain aboard the ISS for up to 14 days. (ANI)
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