Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla has become the first Indian to receive a haircut in microgravity while aboard the International Space Station during the Axiom Mission-4. The moment, shared by American astronaut Nichole Ayers, has gone viral.
A Space Haircut at 28,000 kmph
Shukla, currently on his return journey, got a trim from American astronaut Nichole Ayers. The two shared a light moment as Ayers snipped his hair while floating in zero gravity.
Later, Ayers joked that she might try haircutting professionally once back on Earth. “The reviews are still out,” she said during a farewell interaction.
Ayers, a major in the US Air Force, has spent 122 days in space. Her time includes six hours of spacewalks, making her an unusually qualified stylist in orbit.
Shukla, a decorated Indian Air Force test pilot, had spent 30 days in quarantine before launch. His mission faced delays, pushing the launch from May 29 to June 25.
No Showers in Space, Only Wipes
The $150 billion ISS has no running water. Astronauts clean themselves using wet towels, dry wipes, and limited soap. Showers are not an option.
Though Shukla didn’t bathe in space, he managed well. From the station’s cupola, he looked fresh, clean-shaven, and camera-ready.
French astronaut Thomas Pesquet, who has spent over a year aboard the ISS, explained the hygiene system. He said there’s little dust or sweat in microgravity, and wipes work surprisingly well.
“Despite no showers, you stay clean,” he said. “The environment is well controlled, and we wipe ourselves daily.”
A Memory Like No Other
Shukla’s haircut became a moment of levity amid a serious mission. Orbiting Earth at 28,000 kmph, he floated in silence as strands of hair drifted around.
It was a simple act, but one filled with meaning. For Shukla, it added a personal memory to a national milestone.
As he returns aboard the Dragon spacecraft, the memory of his space haircut joins his collection of historic firsts—a reminder that life in orbit has its small, human moments too.
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