‘I am a water bender’: Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla’s zero-gravity water tricks stun internet — Watch video here

Floating in zero gravity with a glowing orb of water, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla offered a magical farewell to his journey in space. The Indian astronaut, on Day 19 of his Axiom-4 mission aboard the International Space Station, stunned audiences with a playful display before reboarding the Dragon spacecraft.

A Water Bender in Zero Gravity
As the crew readied for undocking, Shukla called himself a “water bender” during a live interaction. He smiled for the camera as he gently floated a perfect ball of water midair. “It has been very exciting,” he said, sharing that his time was filled with experiments and activities. “Whenever I had downtime, I looked out the window and took pictures.”

Veteran NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, also part of the Ax-4 mission, explained the science behind the display. In zero gravity, surface tension becomes dominant, causing water to form into floating spheres. The segment delighted viewers online, showcasing the wonder of microgravity in real time.

“Saare Jahan Se Accha”: Farewell Speech from Orbit
Earlier in the day, the Axiom-4 crew held a farewell ceremony aboard the ISS. Speaking in Hindi and English, Shukla echoed the famous words of cosmonaut Rakesh Sharma. “Today’s India looks ambitious, fearless, confident, and proud from space,” he said. “India is still ‘saare jahan se accha.’”

He called the mission an “incredible journey” and expressed gratitude to those who made it possible. Shukla added, “If we come together, it is attainable,” highlighting the importance of unity in the nation’s future space goals.