Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, currently on the Axiom-4 space mission, shared his experience via videolink from the spacecraft. After spending 30 days in quarantine before launch, he said all he could think about was leaving Earth. He described the anticipation just before liftoff as overpowering, saying, “Excitement was far away, I just wanted to go.”
Journey to the International Space Station
Shukla, along with astronauts Sławosz Uznański, Tibor Kapu, and one more crew member, launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre in Florida aboard the Dragon spacecraft, powered by SpaceX’s Falcon-9 rocket. The mission is expected to last 14 days at the International Space Station (ISS), with docking scheduled at 4:30 pm on Thursday.
Riding Grace and Welcoming Joy
The astronauts have named their new Dragon capsule ‘Grace’. Shukla also introduced a small toy swan named ‘Joy’, which is being used as the mission’s zero-gravity indicator. Joy is considered the unofficial fifth member of the Axiom-4 crew.
Feeling the Force of Launch
Describing the physical experience of liftoff, Shukla said the gravitational force made him feel like he was being pushed back into his seat. Moments later, everything became silent and weightless. “You were just floating in the silence of the vacuum,” he said, recalling the surreal transition from force to calm.
Adapting to Life in Space
Although the initial moments of being in space felt strange, Shukla described it as an amazing experience. His crewmates have joked that he has been sleeping a lot since the launch. He said he’s adjusting well, enjoying the views, and learning new routines like walking, eating, and moving in zero gravity.
A Fun and Learning-Filled Mission
Shukla emphasized that the experience is not just exciting but also a major learning phase. “It’s like learning everything again—how to walk, how to control yourself. I’m learning like a baby,” he said. He added that making mistakes is part of the fun and that watching others learn alongside him makes the journey even more memorable.
