Indian Gaganyatri Shubhanshu Shukla Speaks to ISRO Chief from ISS, Highlights India’s Growing Presence in Human Spaceflight
In a remarkable moment underscoring India’s expanding footprint in space exploration, Shubhanshu Shukla, the Indian astronaut currently aboard the International Space Station (ISS) as part of the Axiom-4 mission, connected with ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan via a special call on the afternoon of July 6.
The conversation, as confirmed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), reflected the growing collaboration between Indian scientific institutions and global space agencies and marked a new chapter in India’s human spaceflight ambitions.
During the conversation, Shukla expressed heartfelt gratitude to Chairman Narayanan and the entire ISRO team for their dedicated efforts and technical contributions, which played a vital role in enabling his safe journey to low Earth orbit.
His words were not only a personal acknowledgment but also a reflection of the country’s progress in establishing itself as a credible player in the domain of manned spaceflight.
ISRO Chief V. Narayanan, who also serves as the Secretary of the Department of Space, enquired about Shukla’s health, adaptation to microgravity, and the scientific experiments currently underway aboard the ISS.
He conveyed his pride in the achievement and underscored the significance of meticulously documenting the astronaut’s experiences, scientific findings, and mission data.
This, he noted, will serve as critical feedback for ISRO’s flagship human spaceflight programme, Gaganyaan, which aims to send Indian astronauts into space using an indigenous launch vehicle and crew module.
According to ISRO, the Gaganyaan programme represents a landmark step in India’s space journey. It aims to demonstrate the capability to launch and return Indian astronauts safely from low Earth orbit (LEO).
The mission will not only showcase India’s technological prowess but also lay the foundation for future crewed space missions, possibly including longer-duration stays in space, space labs, or interplanetary missions in the coming decades.
Shukla’s current mission, being conducted under the ISRO–Axiom Space partnership, is seen as a strategic learning opportunity. It allows Indian scientists to gather invaluable operational knowledge, crew behavior data, and exposure to international space environments—learnings that are essential for refining India’s unmanned space systems.
The call was also attended by several top ISRO officials, each representing a key component of India’s space infrastructure:
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Dr. Unnikrishnan Nair, Director of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) and Chairman of the Programme Management Council for the Human Space Programme,
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M. Mohan, Director of the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC),
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Padmakumar E. S., Director of ISRO Inertial Systems Unit (IISU),
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M. Ganesh Pillai, Scientific Secretary, ISRO,
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N. Vedachalam, former Director of LPSC.
These distinguished officials discussed with Shukla the broader scientific implications of the ongoing research onboard the ISS. Shukla, in turn, shared detailed updates on the progress of various experiments, particularly focusing on the mission’s scientific goals, real-time data collection challenges, and adaptations required in the unique space environment.
The interaction between the astronaut and ISRO leadership was not just symbolic but also strategic—it exemplified the synergy between experience, innovation, and future ambition.
India’s participation in the Axiom-4 mission and Shukla’s presence aboard the ISS signal a transformational phase in India’s space narrative, where the nation is steadily transitioning from launching satellites to sending and supporting astronauts in orbit.
As India prepares for the Gaganyaan mission, expected to launch in the coming years, the lessons from missions like Axiom-4 will serve as vital building blocks, shaping not only technical roadmaps but also crew training, life-support systems, and mission design.
