New Delhi: As Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla embarks on the Axiom-4 mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS), India’s first spaceman, Rakesh Sharma, has reflected on how space travel profoundly shifts human perspective. In a podcast released by the Ministry of Defence, Sharma emphasized that viewing Earth from space highlights our shared humanity and underscores the urgent need for peace, unity, and environmental preservation.
“Space makes you realize this planet belongs to all of us. We must abandon conflict and weapons, and instead embrace cooperation,” said Sharma.
In 1984, Sharma—a test pilot from the Indian Air Force—was selected for the Indo-Soviet space mission. After undergoing 18 months of training near Moscow, he spent eight days aboard Salyut-7, conducting experiments devised by Indian scientists.
Recalling the mission, Sharma said learning Russian was essential and challenging. “Communication and training were entirely in Russian. We learned the language in just two months,” he said. He noted that orbiting Earth every 90 minutes meant witnessing sunrises and sunsets every 45 minutes—a surreal experience that changed his view of the universe.
Though technology has advanced, Sharma believes the psychological impact of space remains powerful. He famously described India from space to PM Indira Gandhi with the words: “Sare Jahan Se Achha.”
Looking forward, Sharma sees space tourism and deep-space exploration as the future. Proud of India’s ethos of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, he praised the country’s humanitarian values during the Covid vaccine outreach.
After retiring from IAF as Wing Commander, Sharma contributed to HAL and the development of Tejas, India’s LCA fighter.