Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma to Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla: 4 Decades of India’s Space Dreams
On June 8, 2025, when Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla blasts off into space, he will carry the hopes of 1.4 billion Indians, marking a historic moment exactly 41 years after India’s first astronaut ventured into the cosmos. Shukla will fly as part of the Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission, a prestigious collaboration between the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), NASA, and Axiom Space, a private American space company. Launching from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft will carry Shukla and three other astronauts—Peggy Whitson (USA), Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski (Poland), and Tibor Kapu (Hungary)—to the International Space Station (ISS). This 14-day mission, India’s second human spaceflight, is a crucial step toward the Gaganyaan programme, showcasing India’s growing prowess in space exploration.
Four decades ago, a brave Indian pilot became the first from our nation to touch the stars, sparking pride across the country. Today, another Indian is ready to carry those dreams into orbit. Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma and Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla are shining beacons in India’s space journey. Their missions, separated by years, show how India has transformed from a beginner to a bold player in space exploration. Here’s a look at their inspiring stories, the spacecraft they used, the experiments they conducted, and why their journeys matter to every Indian.
Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma: India’s First Space Pioneer
On April 3, 1984, Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma, a 35-year-old Indian Air Force pilot, became the first Indian to travel to space. He flew aboard the Soviet spacecraft Soyuz T-11 as part of a joint mission between ISRO and the Soviet Interkosmos programme. Launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, the spacecraft docked with the Salyut 7 space station, orbiting Earth at an altitude of about 250–300 km (155–186 miles). Sharma, along with Soviet cosmonauts Yury Malyshev and Gennady Strekalov, spent 7 days, 21 hours, and 40 minutes in space. They returned to Earth on April 11, 1984, landing in Kazakhstan aboard the Soyuz T-10 module.
During his mission, Sharma conducted 43 experimental sessions, focusing on bio-medicine and remote sensing. He photographed India from space, capturing images that helped map natural resources and saved years of ground surveys. His powerful cameras even spotted mountaineers climbing Mount Everest! Sharma also tested yoga in microgravity, exploring how it could help the body adapt to weightlessness. These experiments showed the world that India could contribute to global space science.
Sharma’s mission was a matter of national pride. He carried the Indian tricolour, portraits of then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, President Zail Singh, and Defence Minister Venkataraman, and soil from Mahatma Gandhi’s resting place at Rajghat. In a televised call with Indira Gandhi, when asked how India looked from space, Sharma replied, “Saare Jahan Se Achcha” (Better than the whole world), quoting poet Muhammad Iqbal. His words united the nation and became a symbol of India’s ambition.
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla: The Next Star in India’s Space Saga
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, a 39-year-old Indian Air Force test pilot, will become the second Indian to travel to space in 2025. His Axiom-4 mission will see him spend 14 days aboard the International Space Station (ISS), orbiting Earth at an altitude of about 400 km (250 miles). This mission is a major milestone for India’s space programme, especially as it prepares for the Gaganyaan mission, India’s first indigenous human spaceflight in 2026. On the ISS, Shukla will conduct 12 scientific experiments, including seven designed by ISRO and five in collaboration with NASA. The ISRO experiments include studying how methi (fenugreek) and moong (green gram) sprout in microgravity, which could help develop food systems for future space missions. Other ISRO experiments will focus on biomedical research, materials science, and Earth observation, aiming to understand how microgravity affects human health, material properties, and India’s land and coastal ecosystems. The five NASA-collaborative experiments will explore fluid dynamics in microgravity, plant biology, radiation effects on human tissues, advanced materials testing, and space weather monitoring, contributing to global space research and future deep-space missions.
Shukla will also hold two live events, connecting with Indian students to inspire young minds to pursue science and space exploration. A fighter pilot with over 2,000 hours of flying experience on aircraft like the Su-30 MKI and MiG-21, Shukla brings skill and discipline to the mission. Mentored by Rakesh Sharma, he says, “I may be travelling alone, but this is the journey of 1.4 billion people.” His mission will help India master space operations, paving the way for Gaganyaan and India’s goal of building its own space station by 2035.
Why These Missions Matter
Rakesh Sharma’s 1984 mission put India on the global space map when ISRO was just starting out. It showed that India could aim high despite limited resources. His experiments helped map India’s resources, and his words united the nation. Shubhanshu Shukla’s mission is about building India’s future in space. His 12 experiments, including the five with NASA, will help ISRO design better spacecraft and systems for *Gaganyaan* and beyond, moving India from symbolic missions to practical expertise.
Both missions highlight India’s spirit of collaboration. Sharma worked with the Soviet Union, and Shukla partners with NASA and Axiom Space. These partnerships show that space exploration is about working together for humanity’s progress. For young Indians, these stories are a call to dream big. From Sharma’s MiG-21 cockpit to Shukla’s SpaceX Dragon, they prove that courage and curiosity can take you to the stars.
A Call to Reach for the Stars
As we honour Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma’s historic flight and cheer for Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla’s upcoming journey, let’s remember what makes their stories special. They are not just astronauts—they are symbols of India’s ambition and hope. Sharma’s “Saare Jahan Se Achcha” still resonates, and Shukla’s mission will inspire the next generation to aim high. Let’s support ISRO’s vision, encourage our children to embrace science, and believe that India’s future in space is as vast as the universe itself.
The Difference Between Salyut 7 and the ISS
The Salyut 7 space station, where Rakesh Sharma worked, and the International Space Station (ISS), where Shubhanshu Shukla will stay, are like different homes in space. Salyut 7, built by the Soviet Union and active from 1982 to 1991, was small, about the size of a bus, orbiting at 250–300 km above Earth. It was designed for a few cosmonauts to live and work for short periods, with basic labs for experiments. It was mainly used by Soviet crews, with guests like Sharma from other countries.
The ISS, launched in 1998 and still active, is a much larger, modern space station, like a big house orbiting at 400 km above Earth. Built and run by multiple countries—USA, Russia, Europe, Japan, and Canada—it’s as big as a football field and can house up to seven astronauts. The ISS has advanced labs for experiments in biology, physics, and more, plus facilities like gyms and better living spaces. While Salyut 7 was a Soviet project for short missions, the ISS is a global teamwork effort for long-term research, making it a hub for cutting-edge science and international cooperation.
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