Overview

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi said India should prepare a pool of 40–50 astronauts to support crewed missions including Gaganyaan and the proposed Bharatiya Antariksh Station.
• Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla described microgravity effects, noting slower heartbeats in orbit and initial difficulty walking after landing as the brain reorients to gravity.
• Shukla highlighted India-led plant experiments with moong and fenugreek that sprouted in about eight days, underscoring their potential for compact, nutrient-dense space food.
• He reported strong international interest in India’s crewed program, saying colleagues frequently asked about Gaganyaan and even sought invitations to future launches.
• Shukla’s Axiom-4 mission launched June 25, docked with the ISS a day later, featured more than 60 experiments and extensive outreach with a multinational crew, and concluded with his July 15 splashdown.