States » SouthPosted at: Jun 25 2025 2:31PM


Sharma to Shukla: Dr Kapoor on India’s space leap

Bengaluru, June 25 (UNI) Forty years ago, Rakesh Sharma looked out of a Soyuz capsule and famously told Prime Minister Indira Gandhi that India looked saare jahan se achha from space. Today, India is preparing to write the next chapter in that celestial story — not from a Cold War command center in Moscow, but from a cutting-edge, private mission led by American innovators and supported by international partners.
Shubhanshu Shukla, one of the four astronauts trained under India’s ambitious Gaganyaan programme, is set to soar into orbit aboard the Axiom-4 mission, a collaboration between Axiom Space, SpaceX, and NASA. If all goes to plan, he will soon be en route to the International Space Station (ISS) aboard the Falcon 9 rocket, joining an exclusive club of Indians who have left Earth behind — but this time, under entirely new conditions.
“This is a very complex process — millions of systems must work perfectly together for a mission to succeed and be safe,” Dr. R.C. Kapoor, a veteran space scientist who has witnessed the evolution of India’s space programme from its nascent days, told UNI in an interview.
But this is not just another astronaut going to space. This is about India stepping confidently into the era of commercial spaceflight, where government-to-government cooperation has made room for strategic partnerships with private players, international docking protocols, and systems designed for routine human travel to space.
“The difference is significant,” Kapoor pointed out. “Rakesh Sharma ji flew under a direct agreement between the Indian and Soviet governments. It was symbolic of the times — a Cold War alliance, a tightly controlled, state-run affair. He did vital work and brought back lessons that helped ISRO grow.”
“But now,” Kapoor added, “we are witnessing an entirely new phase. Private players are not just participating — they are leading missions. And India is not only learning from them, but also contributing meaningfully.”
Shukla’s selection dates back to 2019, when ISRO sifted through 60 applicants to select 12, eventually narrowing it down to four astronauts. All of them underwent rigorous training — first in Russia, and later at the Bengaluru-based Human Space Flight Centre. Shukla’s opportunity to fly with Axiom has added a layer of global operational exposure.
“This mission has given us access to Axiom’s systems, SpaceX’s protocols, and even some interaction with NASA,” Kapoor noted. “These are the building blocks we need for Gaganyaan — our very own crewed space mission.”
Indeed, Shukla’s flight is as much a learning platform for India as it is a personal triumph. He is flying aboard the Falcon 9, one of the most reliable rockets in operation, with over 500 successful launches to its credit. After about 28 hours in transit, the mission will dock with the ISS — a process Kapoor described as “exquisitely timed, intricate, and unforgiving of even the smallest error.”
“Every system has to work perfectly. In fact, even in the final 45 seconds before launch, the project director waits before saying ‘Go’. Until then, the team remains on high alert,” Kapoor said.
Beyond the technical prowess, the mission carries symbolic weight. It signals a transformation in how India is viewed — not just as a rising space power, but as a nation capable of integrating with the most advanced and demanding spaceflight networks in the world.
And perhaps most importantly, it rekindles the spark of wonder in the next generation.
“For our students, this is a moment of imagination and inspiration,” Kapoor said. “This is not just science — it’s national aspiration, it’s cultural pride. Shubhanshu’s journey belongs to all of us.”
As India continues building toward Gaganyaan, and as public and private sectors rally together to make space travel not a one-off achievement but a sustainable future, one thing is clear: the view from above is still beautiful — only now, India’s place in the cosmos is more secure than ever.
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