New Delhi, June 12: Indian Air Force officer and astronaut Shubanshu Shukla recently shared a fascinating experience related to his preparations for a space mission. He explained that due to the near-zero gravity in space, astronauts must engage in rigorous exercise regularly to maintain their muscle strength.
Shukla noted in an Instagram post that gravity on Earth keeps our bodies constantly active. Every activity requires muscle engagement, which helps keep them strong. However, the situation is entirely different in space, where the minimal gravitational effect means many muscles do not need to work as they normally would. If this is neglected, muscles can weaken.
He elaborated that this is why astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) exercise for about two hours daily. This routine is crucial for keeping their bodies healthy and active.
Shukla also recounted a humorous incident during his training. He mentioned that during quarantine last year (2025), several strength tests were conducted to record his initial physical condition. This data would help doctors understand the changes in the body after the mission.
During one test, a strength gauge was placed between his legs and the machine. He was instructed to apply pressure with one leg only, but in his enthusiasm, he used both legs. As a result, the machine shook, rendering all the data useless.
Following this incident, the technical team adopted a different approach for the next test. Shukla revealed that during the subsequent attempt, his flight surgeon sat on the machine to ensure it remained stable and accurate data could be recorded.
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