Prime Minister Narendra Modi met astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla here, and underlined the need to build a sizable pool of 40–50 astronauts to support future space missions, including Gaganyaan and the proposed Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS).
The Prime Minister noted that, until recently, very few children in India aspired to become astronauts. He said Shukla’s journey would inspire greater belief and interest among the younger generation.
Shukla echoed this view, saying the trend was already shifting. Recalling his recent trip to the International Space Station as part of the Axiom-4 mission, he said he had interacted with children on three occasions—once through a live event and twice over radio links. “In each interaction, at least one child asked me, ‘Sir, how can I become an astronaut?’” Shukla said.
During his interaction with Modi on Monday, Shukla expressed gratitude for getting the opportunity to represent India in space and took it upon himself to help others achieve this milestone.
Addressing the PM’s curiosity about his space travel and how an astronaut perceives and adapts to the changes in the environment during their voyage to space and back on Earth, Shukla said the human body experiences a range of changes in the gravity-free environment of space. “The heart rate slows down as you enter the space,” he added. Overall, it takes an astronaut four to five days to adjust to the space environment.
He noted that similar challenges occur upon returning to Earth. Regardless of fitness, walking initially becomes difficult. Sharing his own experience, Shukla said that although he felt fine after landing, he stumbled during his first steps and had to be supported.
“Even though you know how to walk, the brain takes time to reorient and understand the new environment,” he added.