• Source:JND
Add as a preferred

Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the first Indian astronaut to visit the International Space Station (ISS), has shared a heartfelt video documenting his physical recovery after spending 18 days in microgravity. The 39-year-old Indian Air Force officer and test pilot returned to Earth after a groundbreaking mission during which he orbited the planet more than 310 times and travelled approximately 1.3 crore kilometers.

In the recently shared video, Shukla is seen struggling to walk, visibly unsteady on his feet as two individuals support him during his first steps post-return. In another segment, he is shown walking on a treadmill, part of his rehabilitation process. The footage offers a rare and personal glimpse into the physical toll that space travel can take on the human body. Along with the video, Shukla thanked his well-wishers and provided a candid health update. “I have received a lot of messages regarding my health and wishing me a speedy recovery. I want to thank you all and also give an update,” he wrote.

 
 
 
View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Shubhanshu Shukla (@gagan.shux)

Effects Of Microgravity

Describing the physical impact of space travel, Shukla said the human body undergoes significant changes in microgravity, fluid shift, altered heart rate, muscle loss, and balance readjustment among them. “These are adaptations to the new environment,” he explained. “Once the body gets used to this and we return to gravity, these adjustments happen once again,” Shukla noted that recovery times vary for every astronaut, but he was surprised at how quickly his body began readapting. “I was surprised to observe the pace with which our body can adjust to new settings,” he said.

Shukla's historic visit to the ISS was closely followed by his family and the nation. His father, Shambhu Dayal Shukla, watched the splashdown livestream from their home in Lucknow and expressed immense pride in his son's achievement. “The support we’ve received from across the country has been overwhelming,” he said.

During his mission, Shukla completed all seven microgravity experiments assigned by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). These included studies on human physiology, muscle regeneration, tardigrades, seed germination, algae cultivation, crop resilience, and radiation effect, contributing valuable data for future space missions. “In the pursuit of the unknown (space), you get to know more about yourself,” he concluded.