Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla has shared a breathtaking timelapse video of India as seen from the International Space Station (ISS).
The video, shot from the ISS cupola window, captures the station’s
journey from the Indian Ocean along the east coast of India.
Lightning flashes from thunderstorms light up the monsoon clouds, followed by a dark stretch marking the Himalayas. As the station crosses over, the view transforms into a spectacular sunrise, with stars visible in the backdrop.
Sharing the video, Shukla said he wanted viewers to feel as if they were “sitting in the cupola and witnessing it yourself.”
He described the sight as a “mesmerising dance of natural elements,” noting that though much of the country was covered in clouds during the monsoon, he managed to capture glimpses of Bharat from orbit.
“Unfortunately I was up there during the monsoon season and it was mostly cloudy, yet I managed to steal a few shots of Bharat, one of which you are seeing,” the astronaut wrote in the X post.
*- Watch the video in landscape with screen brightness high.
While on orbit I tried to capture pictures and videos so that I can share this journey with you all.
This is a Timelapse video of Bharat from space. The @iss is moving from south to north from the Indian Ocean. We are… pic.twitter.com/ETEARm88tz
— Shubhanshu Shukla (@gagan_shux) August 22, 2025
A day before, Shubhanshu Shukla shared detailed insights about the experience and its significance for India’s ambitions in human spaceflight, emphasising the invaluable knowledge gained from being in space itself.
Speaking at a press conference, he underscored the pride and profound perspective gained by viewing Earth from orbit.
He explained that the true benefit of executing a human space mission goes far beyond rigorous training, referencing India’s upcoming space endeavour Gaganyaan.
The Indian astronaut pointed out the unique challenges of space on the human body and said, “The experience is very different from what you learn on the ground. The body goes through a lot of changes. The body forgets how to live in gravity after spending 20 days in space.”
On the technical side, he described the mission’s launch aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket and highlighted his key role as mission pilot on the Crew Dragon spacecraft.
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