Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla shared his experiences of readjusting to Earth's environment a few weeks after his successful return from the Axiom-4 mission. In a discussion on Friday, he revealed that the initial period after returning from space was extremely challenging for him.
New Delhi: After a long gap of 41 years, an Indian citizen has completed a space journey. Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, who recently returned to Earth from the Axiom-4 mission, shared the physical and mental challenges he faced during his space stay and after returning to Earth in a virtual press conference on Friday.
He described how, during readjustment to gravity, even a normal mobile phone felt heavy to him, and he was unable to handle his laptop properly.
Indian Returns from Space After 41 Years
Shubhanshu Shukla, who returned to Earth on July 15, has become the second Indian citizen to travel to space after Rakesh Sharma. In 1984, Rakesh Sharma traveled to space under a Soviet mission. But Shubhanshu's flight was part of an international partnership led by the private company Axiom Space, which not only sent him to space but also made him a key contributor and researcher for the mission.
Shubhanshu said, "This time, we were ready not just to fly, but to lead. This is not a solo effort; it is a story of global collaboration."
"When I Picked Up the Phone, It Felt Very Heavy"
After returning from space, the body's adaptation to Earth's gravity is a major physical change. Shubhanshu gave a very human and interesting example about this:
"When I asked for the phone to take pictures and held it in my hand, it felt quite heavy. It was a normal phone, but when you live without gravity for 20 days, the body's perception of weight changes."
He explains that the body gets used to the lightness of the limbs, and as soon as one returns to Earth, the body feels the heaviness again.
"I Dropped the Laptop While Trying to Place It on the Bed"
Sharing another interesting experience, Shubhanshu said:
"I was working on my laptop and wanted to place it on the edge of the bed. I let it go, thinking it would float there, but it fell straight to the floor. Thankfully, there was a carpet underneath, otherwise, it could have been damaged."
This incident illustrates that after living in space, when a person returns to Earth, their thinking and reactions remain attuned to microgravity.
Axiom-4 Mission: 20 Days in Space
Shubhanshu Shukla and his colleagues were part of this mission for 20 days, during which they spent 18 days on the International Space Station (ISS). The mission's objectives were:
- Biological experiments in microgravity
- Testing of Indian technology and devices
- Studying the effects of space on the human body
- He also spoke to Prime Minister Narendra Modi from space, which he described as the most memorable moment.
- Lessons for the Gaganyaan Mission
Shubhanshu's experience could prove invaluable in terms of preparations for India's ambitious Gaganyaan mission. He said: "What I have learned will be very useful for our Gaganyaan mission. How to train astronauts, what precautions to take, and how to adapt the body—I have learned all these things from direct experience."
Shubhanshu Shukla will return to India in mid-August, where he will share his experiences with ISRO and Indian aerospace scientists. During this time, he will also be part of special training programs and innovation projects.
