‘Saare Jahan Se Accha…': Shubhanshu Shukla's speech from ISS rings out before the Axiom-4 farewell
Late on 13 July, Indian Air Force Group Captain Shubhanshu 'Shux' Shukla floated inside the Destiny lab of the
International Space Station
, looked into a camera that beamed live across the world, and said,
'India still looks Saare Jahan Se Accha from space.'
The words play on a line first spoken by Rakesh Sharma in 1984 and have echoed in India's collective memory ever since.
Shukla's short but emotional message came just hours before
NASA
and Axiom Space hosted the official farewell for the Axiom-4 crew, who are scheduled to undock and head home after more than two weeks in orbit. The moment was patriotic, nostalgic, and quietly historic: only a handful of Indians have ever been on the ISS, and even fewer have had the chance to send such a greeting back to Earth. The speech sets the tone for Axiom-4's splashdown and reminds viewers that spaceflight is still, at its core, a very human story.
Why Shubhanshu Shukla chose the 'Saare Jahan Se Accha' line
The original phrase comes from the early-1900s Urdu poem Tarānah-e-Hind by Muhammad Iqbal. When Rakesh Sharma used it during his 1984 call with Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, the exchange became an instant piece of pop culture. Shukla's repetition links today's private-sector mission with that earlier milestone, creating a bridge between India's first view from space and its growing role in commercial astronautics.
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Axiom-4 farewell ceremony: Timing, crew, live stream
NASA and Axiom held the on-station farewell at 7:25 PM IST on 13 July. The stream ran on NASA TV and the agency's website, showing hugs between Expedition 73 residents and the departing private crew before hatch closure. Undocking is targeted for 14 July around 4:35 PM IST, with splashdown in the Atlantic roughly twelve hours later, weather permitting.
Science goals: What the Axiom-4 astronauts did in 17 days
During 250+ Earth orbits, the four-member team logged over 60 experiments. Highlights include:
Microalgae growth in micro-g to test sustainable oxygen and food sources.
Brain–computer interface trials evaluating how neural-signal decoding performs under radiation.
Advanced centrifugation studies on fluid behaviour, useful for drug formulation.
Shukla's contribution focused on materials research for high-temperature alloys, data that ISRO engineers say could feed into next-gen launch-vehicle nozzles.
Cultural exchange in orbit: A small feast before goodbye
The farewell wasn't all protocol. Each astronaut shared a dish from home. Shukla heated pouches of aam ras and carrot halwa; Polish crewmate Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski brought pierogi stuffed with cabbage and mushrooms. The quick meal underscored how even a cramped orbiting lab can feel like a family kitchen when departure looms.
What's next for Shubhanshu Shukla after splashdown
Medical checks in Florida are required within two hours of landing.
Post-flight debrief at Axiom's Houston HQ to log experiment data.
Public outreach tour across India, including a likely visit to the National Science Centre in Delhi.
Government sources hint that Shukla may join India's own Gaganyaan training cadre as an adviser, bringing first-hand ISS experience to ISRO's human-spaceflight programme.
Related FAQs
1. Who is Shubhanshu Shukla?
He is an Indian Air Force Group Captain selected by Axiom Space as pilot for the private Axiom-4 mission; he trained at NASA's Johnson Space Center and became the first Indian to pilot a commercial spacecraft.
2. What does 'Saare Jahan Se Accha' mean?
It translates roughly to 'better than the entire world' and is a patriotic line from Iqbal's famous poem praising India.
3. How can I watch the Axiom-4 splashdown?
NASA TV will stream the de-orbit and recovery live on its website and YouTube channel starting about one hour before the scheduled landing time.
4. Did Shukla conduct any India-specific experiments?
Yes. He led materials-science tests aimed at improving heat-resistant alloys, part of a collaboration between ISRO and Indian Institute of Science researchers.
5. Will the Axiom-4 capsule be reused?
Axiom Space plans to refurbish Dragon Freedom for future commercial flights, following SpaceX's standard practice of multiple re-flight missions once safety checks are clear.
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