TV
Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, who recently returned to Earth after an 18-day mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS), shared an emotional note on Instagram reflecting on the personal challenges behind his journey. In his heartfelt message, he spoke about the deep joy of reuniting with his family and the emotional cost of space exploration.
"Space flight is amazing but seeing your loved ones after a long time is equally amazing. It has been 2 months since I entered quarantine,” he wrote, offering a glimpse into the sacrifices astronauts make long before launch day.
Shukla, who reunited with his wife Kamna Shukla and six-year-old son Kiash after two months, described the difficult quarantine period that began ahead of his launch in June. Highlighting how even limited family visits during quarantine came with emotional strain, he said, “During the quarantine family visits we had to be 8 m apart. My little one had to be told that he had germs on his hands and that is why he could not touch his father. Every time he would come for the visit he would ask his mom ‘Can I wash my hands?’”
Reflecting on the moment of return, Shukla added, “It was challenging. Coming back to Earth and holding my family back in my arms felt like home.”
He ended his post with a touching reminder: “Find a loved one today and tell them that you love them. We often get busy in life and forget how important the people in our lives are. Human spaceflight missions are magical but they are made magical by the humans.”
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Shukla’s post has resonated widely, reminding many that behind every space mission there’s a deep human story.
Next up, Shukla has already been linked to the Gaganyaan mission, ISRO's first crewed spaceflight slated for 2027.
