‘0 To 28,500 Km/Hr In 8.5 Minutes’: Shubhanshu Shukla Relives His Moments In Space

Last Updated:June 17, 2026, 16:26 IST

"India was the most beautiful view; meeting with PM Modi was inspiring," says Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla who received News18 India’s Amrit Ratna Samman on Wednesday

Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, who made history in June-July 2025 by becoming the first Indian to visit the International Space Station (ISS) and the second Indian ever to travel to outer space, following Rakesh Sharma’s historic flight in 1984, received News18 India’s Amrit Ratna Samman on Wednesday.

“Space is perfect for peace," he said in a chat later.

Rocket launch beyond expectation: Shubhanshu Shukla

“When I was in the rocket, there was no difference for me. The rocket launch is more powerful and dynamic than a fighter aircraft. The three seconds of ignition were beyond my expectation in terms of speed and force," said Shukla.

“You go from 0 to 28,500km/hour speed in 8.5 minutes. The transition is very quick. When you are lying down in a capsule, your lungs are compressed. The acceleration makes everything tedious. You are trained to breathe differently…Even a simple task, such as lifting your hand, requires effort because your weight increases fivefold," he said.

“The experience of space is nothing like what you see or hear. You can’t explain the feeling in words. Astronauts had told me too. But there is no way of describing it," Shukla said.

Most beautiful sight

“The most beautiful thing I saw was India, just like Rakesh Sharma described. When you are going from the Indian Ocean to the Himalayas, the Indian peninsula is so brightly lit amid the dark waters. It is the most beautiful sight. I was speechless. Flying over the land where you live was priceless. The planet looks so beautiful. The emotional connect with your country adds to the feeling," he said.

The challenges

“Microgravity can’t be simulated fully. The first few days are challenging. You are suspended in the air. This can only be experienced. Movement and eating are the most challenging," he said.

PM Modi and the future of India

About his meeting with PM Modi, Shukla said, “When I had called the PM from space, he had given me homework. So he checked whether I did it…The meeting was inspiring. We discussed how India could go ahead in space exploration."

For children who want to be astronauts, he said, “A big team was behind my mission…Now, if India wants one of our own on the moon by 2040, it is the responsibility of the kids to fulfil that dream."

Shukla’s mission

He served as the primary mission pilot for the Ax-4 commercial spaceflight, which launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from the Kennedy Space Center on June 25, 2025. He spent 18 days docked at the orbital laboratory before safely splashing down in the Pacific Ocean on July 15, 2025.

In recognition of his pioneering space flight, he was awarded the Ashoka Chakra, India’s highest peacetime military decoration, in 2026.

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