After returning from a successful mission to the International Space Station (ISS), Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla expressed hope that in the near future, an Indian astronaut will travel to space in an Indian-built capsule, launched on an Indian rocket, from Indian soil itself.
Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Shukla said the experience he gained during the ISS mission was far more valuable than any training he had undergone. He described it as a life-changing moment.
Referring to the historic words of Rakesh Sharma in 1984 — “Saare jahaan se achcha” (better than the entire world) — Shukla said those words remain true even today when seen from space.
Talking about his journey on the Axiom-4 Mission, Shukla added that the lessons and skills he acquired will prove extremely useful for India’s ambitious Gaganyaan Mission. “Over the past year, I have learned more than I could ever have imagined,” he said.
Describing his feelings during the launch, Shukla shared:
“No matter how much training you do, once you actually sit inside the rocket and the engines fire up, the feeling is completely different. I had never imagined what it would truly be like. In the first few moments, it almost felt as if I was running behind the rocket to catch up with it. From that instant until the splashdown, the entire journey was beyond words — thrilling, overwhelming, and unforgettable. I am still struggling to find the right words to describe it, so that others can feel what I felt.
