Watch: Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla Relearns to Walk After Returning from Space
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After soaring through space and making history as the first Indian astronaut to reach the International Space Station (ISS), Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is now on a different kind of mission—learning to walk again.
In a candid social media post, Shukla shared a video of his post-space rehabilitation, showing him carefully regaining balance and strength. "I have received a lot of messages regarding my health and wishing me speedy recovery. I want to thank you all and also give an update. Experiencing microgravity our body goes through several changes like fluid shift, heart rate, balance readjustment, muscle loss. These are adaptations to the new environment. Once the body gets used to this and we return to gravity, these adjustments happen once again."
What’s remarkable is Shukla’s attitude. Rather than dwelling on the challenges, he’s amazed by how quickly the human body learns and relearns. “Though it varies for all astronauts, the body soon starts adapting to its new environment. I was surprised to observe the pace with which our body can adjust to new settings. In the pursuit of the unknown (space), you get to know more about yourself,” he said.
Shukla returned to Earth aboard the Dragon spacecraft named Grace, splashing down in the Pacific Ocean near San Diego on July 14, at 3:01 p.m. IST. The spacecraft carried the entire Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) crew, ending their successful 18-day stay aboard the ISS.
A proud moment not just for him but the entire nation, Shukla is set to be part of India’s upcoming Gaganyaan mission—where he’ll officially earn the title of "Gaganaut."
Back home in Lucknow, his family watched the splashdown livestream with pride. His father, Shambhu Dayal Shukla, credited his son’s success to hard work and national support. "We are feeling great, that my son landed properly. He also came out of the dragon, this is a really good thing. Not only us, but for the whole country, he went on behalf of the country. Prime Minister has given him blessings and what is there for him has been only through the PM's efforts. I express my gratitude and thank him for this,” he said.
Shukla's return was celebrated by top leaders including PM Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and UP CM Yogi Adityanath.
The Ax-4 team wasn’t just on a space tour—they contributed to science. Alongside Shukla were Commander Peggy Whitson, Poland’s Slawosz “Suave” Uznanski-Wisniewski, and Hungary’s Tibor Kapu. The crew conducted over 60 experiments and brought back more than 580 pounds of cargo and scientific data.
The mission launched on June 25 via a SpaceX Falcon 9 from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center and docked with the ISS a day later.
As Shukla takes small but determined steps toward full recovery, his journey reminds us that space exploration isn’t just about rockets and stars—it’s also about resilience, discovery, and the human spirit.
In a candid social media post, Shukla shared a video of his post-space rehabilitation, showing him carefully regaining balance and strength. "I have received a lot of messages regarding my health and wishing me speedy recovery. I want to thank you all and also give an update. Experiencing microgravity our body goes through several changes like fluid shift, heart rate, balance readjustment, muscle loss. These are adaptations to the new environment. Once the body gets used to this and we return to gravity, these adjustments happen once again."
What’s remarkable is Shukla’s attitude. Rather than dwelling on the challenges, he’s amazed by how quickly the human body learns and relearns. “Though it varies for all astronauts, the body soon starts adapting to its new environment. I was surprised to observe the pace with which our body can adjust to new settings. In the pursuit of the unknown (space), you get to know more about yourself,” he said.
Shukla returned to Earth aboard the Dragon spacecraft named Grace, splashing down in the Pacific Ocean near San Diego on July 14, at 3:01 p.m. IST. The spacecraft carried the entire Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) crew, ending their successful 18-day stay aboard the ISS.
A proud moment not just for him but the entire nation, Shukla is set to be part of India’s upcoming Gaganyaan mission—where he’ll officially earn the title of "Gaganaut."
Back home in Lucknow, his family watched the splashdown livestream with pride. His father, Shambhu Dayal Shukla, credited his son’s success to hard work and national support. "We are feeling great, that my son landed properly. He also came out of the dragon, this is a really good thing. Not only us, but for the whole country, he went on behalf of the country. Prime Minister has given him blessings and what is there for him has been only through the PM's efforts. I express my gratitude and thank him for this,” he said.
Shukla's return was celebrated by top leaders including PM Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and UP CM Yogi Adityanath.
The Ax-4 team wasn’t just on a space tour—they contributed to science. Alongside Shukla were Commander Peggy Whitson, Poland’s Slawosz “Suave” Uznanski-Wisniewski, and Hungary’s Tibor Kapu. The crew conducted over 60 experiments and brought back more than 580 pounds of cargo and scientific data.
The mission launched on June 25 via a SpaceX Falcon 9 from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center and docked with the ISS a day later.
As Shukla takes small but determined steps toward full recovery, his journey reminds us that space exploration isn’t just about rockets and stars—it’s also about resilience, discovery, and the human spirit.
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