Tripura witnessed a truly extraordinary experience – one that will be cherished for years to come – when India’s first astronaut, Wing Commander (Retd.) Rakesh Sharma, took the audience on a “space flight”, sharing his incredible journey to space orbiting earth. Thanks to Udaan, the organizers of the Tripura Literature Festival, attendees were treated to a day filled with exhilarating insights into space travel, science, and human endurance.
Sharma did not merely describe the sensation of being in space; he delved deep into the science of spaceflight, explaining how the human body adapts to zero gravity, the potential long-term health effects of space travel, and the psychological challenges astronauts face in space. His narratives were not just thrilling but profoundly inspiring, captivating the audience with every word.
| Also Read: Tripura Literature Festival: CM Calls for Showcasing Culture and Heritage of State Globally |
The participation of young men and women in the interactive session underscored the sheer joy and satisfaction of listening to and engaging with a living legend in person. The Q&A session with Sharma provided a rare opportunity for the audience to quench their curiosity about life beyond Earth’s atmosphere.
The Session with Rakesh Sharma took place on the second day of the three-day Tripura Literature Festival, which commenced on Friday with a grand and lyrical inaugural ceremony. The second day was filled with cultural elegance as the festival transitioned into a day of knowledge-sharing, discussions, and personal interviews with distinguished personalities from the realms of science and literature. The audience was further enthralled by beautifully presented cultural performances by local artists, adding a rich, artistic dimension to the festival.
Rakesh Sharma: The Star Attraction of the Festival
The highlight of the second day was undoubtedly Rakesh Sharma’s session. With his articulate and engaging storytelling, he transported the audience into the realm of space exploration, simplifying complex scientific principles such as Newton’s laws of motion and explaining how human organs, including the heart and brain, function differently in the weightlessness of space. He also shed light on the rigorous training astronauts undergo to adapt to the unique challenges of spaceflight.
One of the fascinating aspects of his discussion was the topic of food consumption in space. Sharma described during the space travel, they had the option to choose from70-item menu available to astronauts, catering to individual preferences. On a lighter note, he mentioned, the 70-item menu did not include delicious Bengali sweets.
However, he humorously warned that eating in zero gravity required careful precision- if not consumed swiftly, food particles could float away, creating a mess in the spacecraft.
The audience at Rabindra Bhawan sat spellbound as Sharma described the challenges astronauts face during and after their missions. He emphasized that re-adjusting to Earth’s gravity after a space mission is another crucial phase of an astronaut’s journey, requiring both physical and psychological adaptation.
A Session Filled with Wisdom and Inspiration
Following Sharma’s presentation, a highly interactive Q&A session ensued. He patiently answered a variety of questions, ensuring that every inquiry, no matter how big or small, was met with an insightful and motivating response.
When asked about the potential long-term health effects of space travel, Sharma explained, “Only around 600 astronauts have traveled to space so far. I was the 137th person to go to space, which makes the sample size too small for definitive studies. What we do know is that muscle tone diminishes, bones lose calcium, and other physiological changes may occur. However, since I continued flying even after my space mission, it is difficult for me to differentiate whether any long-term effects were due to space travel or my career in military aviation.”
Before concluding his session, Sharma shared his excitement about India’s upcoming Gaganyaan mission. “India is set to launch the Gaganyaan project next year. This will be historic as it will be an entirely indigenous mission—an Indian astronaut, in an Indian-made spacecraft, launched from Indian soil, using Indian technology. This is a significant milestone, unlike my journey, which was facilitated by a foreign country, using a foreign language and technology. The Gaganyaan mission will truly be a moment of national pride. I hope that in two years, the first fully Indian astronaut returns and shares their experience with all of you.”
When asked how the session was, attendees said, “it was unbelievable to see him standing in front of me”. Another one said, “I could not believe my ears when I heard him replying my question – I am still in a dream mode”. People, generously, thanked Udaan for holding Tripura literature Festival which would help expand mindscape and inspire to dream beyond sky.
