PM Modi interacts with Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla onboard International Space Station

Shubhanshu Shukla in Space: PM Modi Hails India’s Historic Leap Beyond Earth

PM Modi: “India looks grand, much bigger from space than it does on a map,” said Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the first Indian to set foot aboard the International Space Station (ISS), in a heartfelt video call with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday. The 39-year-old Axiom-4 mission pilot described his voyage beyond Earth as a deeply emotional and nationalistic experience, marking a watershed moment in India’s space history.

With this mission, Shubhanshu Shukla in space becomes the second Indian astronaut after Rakesh Sharma (1984) to enter the elite realm of human spaceflight, and the first to reach the ISS, launched aboard the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

PM Modi: “India Looks Grand from Space” — Shukla’s Message to the Nation

In his live interaction with PM Modi, Shukla described a profound sense of unity and awe from 400 kilometers above Earth. “When I looked down at Earth, I saw no borders, no divisions—just one home for all of humanity. But when India came into view, it looked grand, truly bigger than how it appears on any map,” he said, visibly emotional, floating inside the ISS’s Harmony module.

PM Modi’s Words: ‘A Shubh Aarambh for the Nation’

Prime Minister Modi lauded Shukla for his courage and pioneering spirit, calling the astronaut’s journey a ‘shubh aarambh’—an auspicious new beginning for India’s youth and its space dreams.

“Even your name carries the word ‘shubh’ (auspicious), and your mission is the dawn of a new era for India. While you are far from our soil, you remain closest to the hearts of 140 crore Indians,” PM Modi said.

The Prime Minister also offered a special assignment to Shukla, asking him to help lay the foundation for India’s upcoming Gaganyaan human spaceflight, its indigenous space station, and future moon missions.

From Gajar Ka Halwa to Zero Gravity: Shukla Shares Space Experiences with PM Modi

Shukla, dressed in his blue flight suit, shared the unique experience of living in microgravity. “Sleeping here is tough. Nothing stays in one place, and everything floats,” he said. Yet, amid the challenges, he found comfort in small things, like bringing gajar ka halwa (carrot pudding) and aamras (mango pulp) from home. His international teammates, including Peggy Whitson (US), Sawosz Uznanski (Poland), and Tibor Kapu (Hungary), were treated to a taste of Indian hospitality—right in orbit.

Mindfulness in Orbit: A Lesson from the Stars

When asked how he remained calm in the intense and unfamiliar environment of space, Shukla responded, “Mindfulness is key. In stressful situations, staying calm helps make better decisions. It’s something I’ve come to deeply value up here.”

His message to India’s youth was both moving and inspiring:

“This journey isn’t just mine. It belongs to every Indian. When I was young, I never imagined I could become an astronaut. But under your leadership, India dares to dream. Remember, the sky is never the limit.”

Scientific Legacy and Axiom-4 Mission Goals

Shukla and his team will spend approximately 14 days aboard the ISS, conducting over 60 scientific and educational experiments—the most ambitious payload of any Axiom mission to date. Their work ranges from cancer research and DNA repair to advanced manufacturing, further underscoring the critical role of global collaboration and commercial spaceflight in shaping the future.

During the conversation, PM Modi said Shukla’s mission would inspire millions of students across the country to dream big and chase careers in space science.

Final Words from Orbit: ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’

Before concluding his interaction with the Prime Minister, Shukla raised his hand in salute and signed off with a resonant “Bharat Mata ki Jai!”—a chant that echoed across mission control centers, newsrooms, and households throughout India.

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