Wing Commander (Retd) Rakesh Sharma, India’s first astronaut, recently expressed his admiration for the upcoming Gaganyaan mission, which aims to send Indian astronauts into space aboard an entirely indigenous spacecraft. Speaking at the Tripura Literature Festival in Agartala, he highlighted the significance of this mission, calling it a “truly Indian effort” since it will be launched from India’s own spaceport using a homegrown rocket.
Recalling his own space journey in 1984 aboard the Soviet Soyuz T-11, Sharma reflected on the contrast between his mission and Gaganyaan. “I had to train in a foreign country, learn a foreign language, and adapt to their systems. But this time, it will be purely India’s achievement,” he said, expressing excitement for the future astronauts.
He also mentioned Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, one of the selected astronauts for Gaganyaan, who is currently training in Houston before his SpaceX mission to the International Space Station (ISS). Sharma believes this will equip India with valuable experience for future space missions.
On astronaut Sunita Williams, who has been stranded aboard the ISS for months, Sharma reassured that such delays are part of space travel, and safety remains the top priority.
As the crowd at Rabindra Shatabarshiki Bhawan listened in awe, Sharma’s words rekindled India’s enthusiasm for space exploration, proving that the sky is not the limit—it’s just the beginning.
