Indian Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla Makes First Call From Space, Describes Debut As ‘Baby Learning to Walk’
Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla today made his first live call from space, reflecting on his historic launch and describing the experience as “indescribable.” Greeting the nation with a “namaskar” from 418 km above Earth, Shukla shared that he is currently adapting to zero gravity, comparing himself to “a baby learning how to walk, figuring out how to move and control myself.” He added, “But I’m really enjoying every moment,” breaking into laughter as he revealed he has been “sleeping a lot.”
Shukla, piloting the Axiom-4 mission, emphasized the profound significance of his journey for India’s future in space. “Seeing the Indian tricolour reminded me that all of you are with me on this journey,” he stated during the live call. He underscored that this mission represents “a strong step forward for India’s human space program and for the upcoming Gaganyaan mission.” Shukla expressed his desire for every Indian to feel a part of this mission, stressing that “it’s not just about technical ambition — it’s about the spirit and purpose behind the entire journey.” Over the next 14 days, he aims to complete key tasks and meticulously capture his experiences to share them with the public.
The view from the spacecraft, currently at an altitude of 418 km, was simply “beautiful,” according to Shukla. His odyssey aboard the Axiom Space mission marks India’s momentous return to human spaceflight after a gap of 41 years.
The four-member multi-country crew, including mission pilot Shukla, former NASA astronaut Commander Peggy Whitson, and mission specialists Tibor Kapu of Hungary and Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski of Poland, successfully blasted off from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 12:01 PM (IST) on Wednesday. The launch, powered by Elon Musk’s SpaceX Falcon-9 rocket with the Crew Dragon spacecraft atop, occurred after multiple delays, culminating in a historic moment for India’s space aspirations.
