New Delhi: Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, currently aboard the International Space Station (ISS) as part of the Axiom-4 mission, shared a captivating observation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a video conference on Saturday: India, when viewed from space, appears far more “grand and bigger” than it does on a conventional map.
The interaction, which saw PM Modi express profound pride and emotion, highlighted the unique perspective that space travel offers. “You are farthest from India, but closest to the hearts of all Indians,” the Prime Minister conveyed to the pioneering astronaut. Shukla, in turn, expressed his immense honor in representing the nation in space, emphasizing that his journey was “not just my journey, but also our country’s.”
During their conversation, Prime Minister Modi enquired about Shukla’s observations from orbit. The astronaut recounted his awe-inspiring views of Earth, stating, “When we saw India for the first time, we saw that India really looks very grand, looks very big, much bigger than what we see on the map.” He further added a poignant reflection on the absence of borders from space, noting, “When we see the Earth from outside, it seems that no border exists, no state exists, no countries exist. We all are part of humanity, and the Earth is our one home.”
Shukla, who made history by becoming the first Indian to enter the ISS and the second Indian to travel to space after Rakesh Sharma in 1984, also touched upon the challenges of adapting to microgravity. He likened the experience to a “baby learning how to walk,” but affirmed that he was “really enjoying every moment.”
His insights from over 400 kilometers above Earth underscore the transformative power of space travel, not just for scientific advancement but also for fostering a sense of global unity and appreciating the sheer scale of our planet. Group Captain Shukla is slated to conduct various scientific experiments and engage in outreach activities during his 14-day stay on the ISS, a mission that symbolizes India’s growing prominence in the global space arena.
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