After spending 20 days in space on the Axiom-4 mission, Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla has returned to Earth and shared how he’s adjusting back to normal life. He said even holding a phone felt heavy, and once he dropped his laptop by mistake—thinking it would float, like it does in space!
Shukla and his fellow astronauts spoke at a virtual press conference about their space journey and stay on the International Space Station (ISS). The mission launched from Kennedy Space Centre, Florida, on June 25 and returned on July 15.
This mission is historic for India because Shubhanshu Shukla is now the second Indian to go to space, after Rakesh Sharma in 1984. He called this the beginning of India’s second journey into space, saying this time, India is not just flying—but ready to lead.
Shukla, who was born in Lucknow, said a special moment for him was when he spoke to the Prime Minister of India on June 28 while the Indian flag floated behind him in space. He said it felt like India had re-entered global space conversations as an equal partner.
When he returned to Earth, he found daily activities surprisingly difficult. He shared, “Even the phone felt heavy when someone asked for a picture.” He also laughed about the moment when he accidentally dropped his laptop, thinking it would float like in space. Luckily, it landed safely on a carpet.
Talking about the mission, Shukla said it went beyond his expectations and helped him learn a lot. He believes this experience will be very useful for India’s upcoming Gaganyaan mission, where Indian astronauts will go to space again.
Read more: NISAR Mission a Success: NASA-ISRO Satellite Launched into Orbit by GSLV-F16
He also mentioned that he completed all the tasks given to him by PM Modi, including keeping records of everything during the mission. He said this documentation will help India’s future space missions.
Shukla believes these space missions are mainly to inspire young people in India. He said children are already asking how to become astronauts, and that’s a sign of the mission’s success.
Shukla is expected to return to India in mid-August, and he is excited to share everything he learned from space.
