‘Bharat looks bhavya': Gaganyatri Shubhanshu Shukla’s space mission inspires a nation

In a deeply emotional moment, Shukla spoke to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in an 18-minute Earth-to-space video call.

It’s a moment of pride and inspiration for India. Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the nation’s first Gaganyatri to reach the International Space Station (ISS), has captured imaginations with his journey into space, one filled with science, emotion, and national pride.

Beaming with joy and looking healthy in his latest photograph from space, Group Captain Shukla was seen looking out from the iconic cupola of the ISS. His mission, launched on June 26, has now completed nine fruitful days aboard the orbiting laboratory.

Science in orbit: Experiments with earthly impact

Since his arrival, Shukla and his crewmates, Commander Peggy Whitson, Slawosz 'Suave' Uznanski-Wisniewski, and Tibor Kapu, have been immersed in a packed schedule of research and technology demonstrations. Axiom Space, which facilitated the mission, said the team has shown “steady progress” on experiments that aim to “shape the future of space exploration and benefit life on Earth.”

Among Group Captain Shukla’s key scientific tasks:

Muscle Health in Microgravity: He documented the Myogenesis Investigation, which studies how the absence of gravity leads to muscle weakening. The findings aim to help develop countermeasures for astronauts on long missions.

Sustainable Space Farming: Shukla worked on the Sprouts Project, irrigating seeds in space to study how microgravity affects plant growth. The seeds will later be cultivated on Earth to track genetic, microbial, and nutritional changes.

Algae for Deep Space: In another crucial experiment, he deployed samples for the Space Micro Algae study, which looks at how microalgae can provide oxygen, food, and even biofuel on future long-duration space missions.

STEM for Students: Shukla also recorded a hands-on STEM demonstration to showcase how physical and chemical changes behave differently in space, making science relatable and fascinating for young learners.

'From space, you don’t see any borders'

In a deeply emotional moment, Shukla spoke to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in an 18-minute Earth-to-space video call. When asked about his first thoughts upon seeing space, he replied:

“From space, you don’t see any borders. The Earth looks united.”

He added, 'Bharat looks bhavya,' or magnificent, a statement that drew comparisons to astronaut Rakesh Sharma’s legendary 1984 quote describing India as 'Saare Jahan Se Achha.'

India awaits: No photos or videos released yet

Despite the excitement, there’s a curious silence from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

Although Shukla’s iconic moment from the ISS cupola, and his student interactions, have captured national interest, the Human Space Flight Centre (HSFC) has yet to release official photos or videos.

On July 3 and 4, Shukla held virtual outreach sessions with students from Thiruvananthapuram, Bengaluru, and his alma mater, City Montessori School in Lucknow, where over 500 students joined in. But till date, no visuals of these heartwarming conversations have been made public.

ISRO’s outreach push: Still catching up

A delayed statement from ISRO noted:

“Through its student outreach activities, [ISRO] aims to stoke curiosity of younger minds in space activities, technology and application.”

ISRO added that these sessions are part of a broader effort to motivate the next generation to pursue science and technology careers and help build a Viksit Bharat (Developed India).

However, the absence of official footage or images has left many disappointed.

“Thousands across India and the 1.4 billion population are eagerly waiting to see how Group Captain Shukla mesmerised India’s youngsters and ignited the minds of the youth,” one observer said. “Hopefully the HSFC will release these videos soon.”

'The earth looks united'

Group Captain Shukla’s message from space is more than scientific, it’s deeply human. His words echo a profound sense of unity that only space can offer.