‘Shubhanshu Shukla bringing laurels to India': IAF Group Captain's parents ahead of Axiom-4 mission
Speaking with news agency ANI, Shubhanshu Shukla's father Shambhu Dayal Shukla said it was great to see posters featuring the Group Captain all around.
'We are very eager to see the launch of his mission. We are delighted. Our blessings are with him, and we also pray to God for his mission to be completed well...He is fully prepared...It feels great to see all the posters that have been put up for him...He is bringing laurels to Lucknow, the state and our country...We are proud of him,' he said.
Shubhanshu Shukla's mother praised her daughter-in-law, saying her son's achievements for the country wouldn't have been possible without her support.
Asha Shukla said, 'It is a moment of pride for us and everyone else. Posters are being put up everywhere. Everyone is delighted that a man from this country, this Triveni Nagar, is going to soar so high.'
'We are sending all our wishes and blessings to him. He has all the support of our daughter-in-law. This could not have been possible without her. She has played the biggest role here,' she said.
The Axiom-4 mission is targeting a launch window of 2:31 a.m. EDT or 12 noon IST on Wednesday from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida in the US.
The crew, piloted by India's Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, will travel to the orbiting laboratory on a new SpaceX Dragon spacecraft after launching on the company's Falcon 9 rocket. The targeted docking time is approximately 7 am EDT on Thursday, or 4 pm IST.
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Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
What do astronauts eat? How does one sleep in space? Shubhanshu Shukla answers students' queries from ISS
Space has always fascinated people—especially children. So when students from various schools got the rare chance to interact with astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla aboard the International Space Station (ISS), they made the most of it. From what astronauts eat and how they sleep to what happens if someone falls sick in space, students at City Montessori School eagerly fired off their questions. They were also curious about how the body adapts to life in space and how long it takes to readjust on Earth. What happened during the interaction? Speaking from the ISS, Shukla responded with enthusiasm, offering detailed insights. Students also asked about the benefits of space missions and what he enjoys most about being in space. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like War Thunder - Register now for free and play against over 75 Million real Players War Thunder Play Now Undo During the interaction, Shukla, the first Indian to reach the ISS, described the launch experience of the Axiom Mission 4 from the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida on June 25 as "amazing" and "dynamic". About the question on sleeping arrangements while in space, he said, "It is fun actually because in space there is no floor and no ceiling. So if you were to come and visit the station (ISS), you would find someone sleeping on the walls, someone on the ceiling." Live Events "It is so easy to float up and tie yourself to the ceiling. The challenge is to be found at the same place where you slept at night and to ensure that we tie our sleeping bags to ensure we don't float away to some other place," Shukla said. A student said that when asked what happens if someone falls ill in space, the astronaut replied that they carry they carry adequate medicines in case things go wrong. During the interaction, Group Captain Angad Pratap, who is part of India's maiden manned space mission Gaganyaan, was in Lucknow to create awareness among the youth about space programmes. The student interaction was part of ISRO's Vidyarthi Samvad Programme. Shukla, who is the first Indian to reach the ISS, is also one of the four astronaut-designates for Gaganyaan. A student said that Shukla told them that astronauts hardly get any free time. "But they do watch things or play some sports," he said. "However, one thing that astronauts look forward to is to go out and gaze into space and take a good view of the Earth -- it is very beautiful," a student, who was part of the interaction, told PTI. Talking about the challenges of getting the body readjusted back on Earth, Shukla told his audience that the biggest challenge is the absence of gravity. "Space is a new situation for the body. So like today, I am feeling much better from what I was feeling on day one here," the astronaut said. "My body has now kind of adapted to microgravity, but when I return to Earth, my body would have to readapt to gravity. This is a challenge again, and this adaptation will be required on re-entering Earth. A lot of preparations and procedures are required because space is a very dynamic place," he added. Asked what astronauts eat, Shukla said that most of the food is pre-packaged, and adequate care is taken to ensure that they have enough nutrition. Food becomes one of the main sources of motivation or pleasure in space, he said. "Different food items are laid down and astronauts get to taste all of those and whatever they prefer is packed," said Shukla, who during his interaction with Prime Minister Narendra Modi had told him that he had carried desserts like Gazar Ka Halwa, Moong Dal Ka Halwa and Aam Ras with him to space. On June 26, IAF test pilot Group Captain Shukla became the first Indian to set foot on the ISS as he and three other astronauts entered the orbital laboratory to warm hugs and handshakes after the docking of their spacecraft at the end of a 28-hour journey around the Earth. Scripting history with this feat, Shukla (39), became the 634th astronaut to travel to space with the Indian Air Force's fighter pilot, ending his brief remarks after entering the ISS with a "Jai Hind, Jai Bharat" message. He is also the second Indian to go to space in 41 years and the first since Rakesh Sharma's eight-day sojourn in 1984.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
From eating in space to sleeping, astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla answers students' queries from ISS
Space intrigues all, especially children. So when the students of different schools here got the opportunity to talk to astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla , who is onboard the International Space Station (ISS), they relished do astronauts eat? How does one sleep in space? What happens if someone falls sick there? How does the body adjust to space, and how much would it take to readjust on Earth? From his orbital post on the ISS, Shukla enthusiastically gave detailed answers to these questions posed by the students who had assembled at the City Montessori School students also sought to know about the benefits of the space programme and what part of the space visit is most the interaction, Shukla, the first Indian to reach the ISS, described the launch experience of the Axiom Mission 4 from the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida on June 25 as "amazing" and "dynamic".About the question on sleeping arrangements while in space, he said, "It is fun actually because in space there is no floor and no ceiling. So if you were to come and visit the station (ISS), you would find someone sleeping on the walls, someone on the ceiling.""It is so easy to float up and tie yourself to the ceiling. The challenge is to be found at the same place where you slept at night and to ensure that we tie our sleeping bags to ensure we don't float away to some other place," Shukla said.A student said that when asked what happens if someone falls ill in space, the astronaut replied that they carry they carry adequate medicines in case things go the interaction, Group Captain Angad Pratap, who is part of India's maiden manned space mission Gaganyaan, was in Lucknow to create awareness among the youth about space programmes. The student interaction was part of ISRO's Vidyarthi Samvad who is the first Indian to reach the ISS, is also one of the four astronaut-designates for Gaganyaan.A student said that Shukla told them that astronauts hardly get any free time. "But they do watch things or play some sports," he said."However, one thing that astronauts look forward to is to go out and gaze into space and take a good view of the Earth -- it is very beautiful," a student, who was part of the interaction, told about the challenges of getting the body readjusted back on Earth, Shukla told his audience that the biggest challenge is the absence of gravity. "Space is a new situation for the body. So like today, I am feeling much better from what I was feeling on day one here," the astronaut said."My body has now kind of adapted to microgravity, but when I return to Earth, my body would have to readapt to gravity. This is a challenge again, and this adaptation will be required on re-entering Earth. A lot of preparations and procedures are required because space is a very dynamic place," he what astronauts eat, Shukla said that most of the food is pre-packaged, and adequate care is taken to ensure that they have enough nutrition. Food becomes one of the main sources of motivation or pleasure in space, he said."Different food items are laid down and astronauts get to taste all of those and whatever they prefer is packed," said Shukla, who during his interaction with Prime Minister Narendra Modi had told him that he had carried desserts like Gazar Ka Halwa, Moong Dal Ka Halwa and Aam Ras with him to space.A student wanted to know his take on the effect that space has on mental health. 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Group Captain Shubhanshu explained the varied nuances, challenges, and excitement of space travel, while Wing Commander Pratap motivated us to devote ourselves to science," a student said."Among other things, we could either become researchers or join the armed forces as an experimental test pilot for an exciting and challenging career."Among other things, Wing Commander Pratap highlighted the traits of Shukla, with positivity being the key student said that when asked about how one stays fit in space where microgravity comes in play, Shukla said, "On Earth, we always have loading on our body due to gravity and the muscles are always utilised while walking, sitting, or even standing.""But that is not the case in microgravity, as one suffers muscle loss. It is very important for astronauts to keep exercising," Shukla told the students and spoke of his exercise routine."There is a bicycle that we exercise on. 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