How We Can Rethink Space Governance and Safeguard the Global Commons in the 21st Century
SpaceX's mega rocket Starship makes a test flight from Starbase, Texas on May 27, 2025. Photo: AP/PTI.
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Who Is NASA Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla's Wife, Dr Kamna Shukla
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Hindustan Times
18 hours ago
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‘Gajar ka halwa, moong dal halwa, aam ras' What Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla took to International Space Station
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the first Indian to reach the International Space Station (ISS), told Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday that he had taken gajar ka halwa, moong dal halwa, and aam ras with him to space so that fellow astronauts could experience the taste of Indian flavours. Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, who is aboard the International Space Station as part of a commercial mission operated by Axiom Space, during an interaction with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (PTI) In a video interaction with Shukla, PM Modi congratulated him for hoisting the tricolour in space and asked warmly, 'Is everything fine there? Are you well? Did you carry gajar ka halwa?' Responding with a smile, Shukla said, 'Yes, I brought gajar ka halwa, moong dal ka halwa, and aam ras. I wanted everyone who has joined me from other countries to enjoy the richness of Indian flavours. All of us had it together, and everyone liked it.' Read: 'Sky is never the limit, not for me, you, or India': Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla tells PM Modi As PM Modi hailed Shukla's space journey as the beginning of a new era and a step towards Mission Gaganyaan, the slogan 'Bharat Mata ki Jai' reverberated aboard the International Space Station (ISS). 'Farthest from India, closest to Indian hearts': PM Modi to astronaut Shukla 'Shubhanshu, today you are the farthest from the land of India, but the closest to the hearts of every Indian,' the prime minister told Shukla during a video interaction with the astronaut, who is currently stationed aboard the ISS orbiting Earth at an altitude of 400 km. Modi remarked that Shukla's name itself contains the word 'shubh' (auspicious), and said, 'Your journey marks the auspicious beginning of a new era.' Towards the end of their 18-minute conversation, PM Modi raised the patriotic slogan 'Bharat Mata ki Jai', which was echoed back by Shukla from space in a symbolic and emotional moment. Read more: 'Shubh-aarambh' of new era: PM Modi interacts with Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla Sharing his reflections from the mission, Shukla told the prime minister, 'This is not my journey alone but also our country's,' adding that he was 'absorbing these new experiences like a sponge.' 'Everything is different here,' the astronaut said, describing the challenges of life in microgravity. Also read: 'India looks bigger from space than it does on map': Shubhanshu Shukla tells PM Modi 'We trained for a year and I learnt about different systems... but after coming here, everything changed... Here, even small things are different because there is no gravity in space... Sleeping here is a big challenge... It takes some time to get used to this environment,' he added. He also mentioned that the ISS completes 16 orbits of Earth a day, giving him the rare privilege of witnessing 16 sunrises and 16 sunsets every day.
News18
19 hours ago
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Gajar Ka Halwa To India From Space: Top Moments From PM Modi's Chat With Shubhanshu Shukla
Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his best wishes to Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla and inquired about his well-being in space. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, who is aboard the International Space Station as part of the Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission, engaged in a deep conversation via video conferencing, covering a range of topics. Shubhanshu Shukla, along with three fellow astronauts, lifted off for the International Space Station on June 25 aboard SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft, launching from NASA's Kennedy Space Center as part of the Axiom-4 mission. At first, the Prime Minister extended his best wishes to the Group Captain and inquired about his well-being in space. 'I congratulate you on hoisting India's flag in space. First of all, tell me — is everything well there? Are you in good health?" asked PM Modi. 'Yes, Prime Minister," Shukla replied. 'Gajar Ka Halwa' India From Space When the Prime Minister asked Shukla about his first thought that came to mind upon seeing the vastness of space, the astronaut explained in detail about his experience. 'The first view was of the Earth, and after seeing the Earth from outside, the first thought and the first thing that came to mind was that the Earth looks completely one, no border is visible from outside," said Shukla. Describing the view of India from space, he said: '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. 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." #WATCH | Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla says '…When we saw India for the first time, we saw that India looks very grand, very big, much bigger than what we see on the map… When we see the Earth from outside, it seems that no border exists, no state exists, and no countries… — ANI (@ANI) June 28, 2025 While replying to PM Modi's question about his current position in space, Shukla mentioned that a short while ago, while gazing out of the window, they were flying over Hawaii. He noted that from orbit, astronauts witness sunrise and sunset 16 times a day and added that the nation is advancing at a rapid pace. Meditation And Mindfulness During the interaction, Shukla explained that mindfulness plays a vital role in staying calm, especially given the many stressful situations encountered during training and launch. He added that mindfulness and meditation greatly aid in making sound decisions. 'India is progressing at a swift pace…India will have its stations in space…Mindfulness plays a significant role in maintaining calmness, as there are many stressful situations during training and launch. Mindfulness and meditation help a lot in making good decisions," Shukla said. The Group Captain also conveyed a message to the youth, noting that India has envisioned bold and ambitious dreams, and fulfilling them requires the contribution of the younger generation. He stressed that while there is no single path to success, persistent effort is the one constant, and with continued determination, success is inevitable, whether it arrives sooner or later. Axiom-4 Mission Shukla made history on Thursday by becoming the first Indian astronaut to reach the ISS, as the Axiom-4 mission successfully docked with the orbiting lab 28 hours after launch. The Axiom-4 mission marks a commercial effort between Houston-based Axiom Space and NASA. Over the course of their 14-day stay aboard the International Space Station, the crew will carry out 60 scientific experiments, including seven proposed by Indian scientists. Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, now the second Indian to venture into space after Rakesh Sharma's 1984 journey, is also expected to take part in a space-to-Earth outreach event, which may include a high-level interaction from orbit. Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from politics to crime and society. Stay informed with the latest India news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: June 28, 2025, 19:30 IST News india Gajar Ka Halwa To India From Space: Top Moments From PM Modi's Chat With Shubhanshu Shukla
