‘Didn’t think will fly to space’: Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla at IAF event

“I grew up as a shy and reserved person. We used to hear stories of the spaceflight of Rakesh Sharma in our childhood days,” he said at the event which comes after the successful Axiom-4 mission, making Shukla the first Indian to travel to the International Space Station (ISS).

The Group Captain of the Axiom-4 mission, Shukla, speaking to reporters later, called the mission to be a beginning, not an end. “I think the recipe is ready and we just need to execute our plans. It’s a great time for India’s space exploration. The Axiom mission was not an end but a beginning. I will work with ISRO to realise our dream…,” he said.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh was also present at the venue to felicitate the four Gaganyaan astronauts, including Shukla, whom he referred to as “gems,” PTI reported.

Addressing the gathering, Singh said the Gaganyaan mission symbolises as “new chapter” in the journey of Atmanirbhar Bharat. Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair, Group Captain Ajit Krishnan, Group Captain Angad Pratap, and Wing Commander Shubhanshu Shukla are the four chosen Gaganyatris, who will lead India’s mission.

Formally announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2018, the Gaganyaan mission aims to send a three-member crewed flight into the 400 km-orbit for a three-day mission in 2027.

‘Lessons learnt will help in executing India’s missions’

Shukla thanked Singh for the felicitation ceremony. “Raksha Mantri felicitated me and I think this mission is a big achievement for our country and it happened at the right time,” he told the reporters.

As quoted by news agency ANI, Shukla acknowledged that first-hand experience from the ISS mission is invaluable and said that the lessons learnt from it will prove to be critical in executing India’s missions to the space.

“India is on its journey of human-space flight – Mission Gaganyaan, Bharatiya Antriksh Station, and eventually, landing on moon. The lessons I learnt from this mission are unique and will prove to be critical for executing our missions…”

“The biggest aspect that’s making me very happy is the excitement among people and the immense love being showered on me and the support for this mission… Very soon, we have to send an Indian person, on an Indian capsule, from Indian soil…,” he shared with the reporters.

He also shared a message for the youth of the country looking to join the field. “I want to tell the youth that our ambition is ready, our dreams are very big. To fulfil them, we need you. So work hard, chose these fields, develop a curiosity, and explore. There are immense opportunities out there and it is on you to make the best of them and help us realise the dreams. Practice discernment in the age of distraction and stay focused…”

Since his splashdown on July 15, Shukla was in Houston re-acclimatising to gravity and debriefing with officials from Axiom Space, SpaceX and NASA. He had spent 18 days on the ISS.