What It's Like to Float in Space: Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla Shares His Journey

Astronaut's Incredible Experience in Microgravity

New Delhi: Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla shared his thrilling experience of adapting to life in microgravity, describing it as akin to being a baby. He expressed his amazement at floating in the vacuum of space as the Dragon spacecraft made its way to the International Space Station (ISS).

During a video link from the spacecraft, Shukla recounted the 30 days he spent in quarantine, feeling detached from the excitement leading up to the Axiom-4 mission launch. His singular focus was on the launch, stating, "the only thought in my mind was to let us just go."

Shukla, along with three other astronauts, launched from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida aboard the Dragon spacecraft, propelled by a Falcon-9 rocket, for a 14-day mission at the ISS.

The astronauts, part of the Axiom-4 commercial mission, are scheduled to dock at the ISS at 4:30 PM on Thursday.

Reflecting on the launch, Shukla remarked, "Wow, what a ride it was. When I was in the capsule named Grace on the launchpad, all I could think was let’s just go. After 30 days of quarantine, I just wanted to leave."

The astronauts have affectionately named the new SpaceX Dragon spacecraft 'Grace'.

Shukla also introduced 'Joy', a toy swan that serves as the zero-gravity indicator and the fifth 'crew member' on the Axiom-4 mission.

Describing the sensation of launch, he noted feeling pushed back into his seat, but once in space, everything became silent, and he found himself floating effortlessly.

Initially, the moments after entering the vacuum were not particularly pleasant, but soon it transformed into an 'amazing feeling'.

He mentioned that his fellow astronauts observed he has been sleeping quite a bit since the launch on Wednesday.

"I am adapting well. I’m enjoying the views and the experience, learning like a baby—how to walk, control myself, and eat. It’s incredibly exciting," Shukla said.

"This new environment presents fresh challenges, and I’m truly enjoying this journey with my fellow astronauts. Making mistakes is part of the process, and it’s amusing to see others do the same. It’s been a fun experience," he added.