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India’s only two spacefarers share a call from orbit and a stark climate warning

Rakesh Sharma and Shubhanshu Shukla, India’s two space pioneers, recount an unexpected phone call from the ISS and explain how seeing Earth from space reshaped their message on the climate crisis

Written by: Nayonika Bose, Pratip Acharya

4 min readUpdated: Feb 19, 2026 01:50 PM IST

Indian cosmonauts Rakesh Sharma and Shubhanshu Shukla participate in a session at Mumbai Climate Week at BKC in Mumbai on 18 February 2026. Express photo by Sankhadeep Banerjee. 18.02.2026.

Ten days after reaching space, on what was meant to be a nonworking day, Shubhanshu Shukla was given an additional slot to call people back on earth. For Shukla, the first Indian man to travel to the International Space Station, the choice was simple. He decided to place an IP call to the first Indian to travel to space, Rakesh Sharma.

“But when I saw the +1 code prefix, which is used for calls from space, I dismissed it off for a spam call,” chuckled Rakesh Sharma as he recalled the unexpected phone call. It was only after Shukla dialled again that the call connected. “Fortunately, he called me immediately after that. On his second call, I picked up. I was really pleasantly surprised to hear him on the other side,” Sharma said.

Parts of that extraordinary conversation found voice on Wednesday when Sharma and Shukla appeared together on stage for the first time since Shukla’s return from space in July 2025. Speaking at the Mumbai Climate Week, the two Indian spacefarers reflected on what they saw from orbit and what it means for a planet facing a deepening climate crisis.

“Pollution does not respect national boundaries, and our destinies are interconnected in that way,” said Sharma, recalling how he once saw forest fires in Burma, now Myanmar, sending plumes of smoke across the far east due to upper winds. “It isn’t as if that if fields are being burnt in West Pakistan or Punjab, then it only affects northern belt of India. Ultimately, something which is not right, which is not being done properly in one section of the globe has got to affect everybody else,” he said.

Observations from space, he added, make the damage visible. “What many astronauts described a vibrant blue dot is now more grey. Their observations were that our Earth looks less blue than it did. And this is within the space of a few years. This is what pollution is doing.”

Forty-one years after Sharma’s historic mission, Shukla became the second Indian to travel into outer space in 2025. Travelling at 26,000 kilometres per hour to reach the International Space Station in 526 seconds, Shukla said that when he first looked at Earth from orbit, one thought came to mind: “This is home.”

Asked about the worsening climate crisis, Shukla drew lessons from life aboard the ISS, where sustainability is not a choice but a necessity.

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“In space, you have to be sustainable as there are no resources. The water as well as the air that we breathe is recycled. You don’t have any additional air and most of it is recycled and purified and circulated back. When all the systems are working perfectly fine, almost 98 percent of the water is recycled on International Space Station. There is a nice saying on the station that yesterday’s coffee is also tomorrow’s coffee. So, everything gets recycled. This including clothes that you wear. The food that we use, it’s in packets which has to be finished, when you open it. This made me realise that living sustainably is possible if you attempt to live without excesses,” Shukla said.

Echoing that sentiment, Sharma warned against overconsumption. “The earth’s resources are finite and if we are going to expend that in a profligate manner, then we are going to eat ourselves out of the only planet which we have. Therefore, we need to protect our planet earth from ourselves.”

As discussions around future lunar missions and even making the moon an administrative base for Mars gather pace, Shukla said preserving international collaboration would be crucial.

Before the two space travellers shared their experiences, cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar joined them on stage. “There is evidence of how quickly world is changing and its alarming. We are discussing these solutions to make these planet a good place for generations to come. We need to take a step now, for what is right, so that we can build the future we truly want,” Tendulkar said at the event.

Nayonika Bose

Nayonika Bose is a Senior Correspondent with The Indian Express’ Mumbai bureau. While in the early stages of her career, her focused reporting on local governance and community welfare already demonstrates clear Expertise and Trustworthiness in covering essential civic issues impacting Mumbai's residents. Expertise & Authority (E-E-A-T) Specialized Focus: Nayonika's reporting is dedicated to civic and community issues, providing readers with highly relevant, ground-level information about the functionality and administration of India's largest metropolitan area. Core Coverage Areas: Her articles highlight a strong focus on the fundamental quality of life and public safety in Mumbai, including: Civic Infrastructure: Reports on critical failures and initiatives related to public works, such as the recurring problem of unauthorized building collapses in Navi Mumbai, the construction of new infrastructure projects (like the Dahisar-Bhayandar Link Road and the Mahalaxmi cable-stayed bridge), and the maintenance of essential city services (e.g., manhole cover theft). Urban Governance & Crisis Management: Provides detailed coverage of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's (BMC) response to major crises, particularly during the monsoon (e.g., heavy rainfall, water cuts, and public health concerns like dengue and malaria) and large-scale public safety incidents (e.g., the hoarding collapse fallout). Community Welfare & Rights: Reports on key social issues, including the financial aid scheme for persons with disabilities, the struggles of Mumbai's hawkers protesting eviction drives, and the dangers faced by workers due to the continuation of manual scavenging in water tanks. Cultural & Heritage Reporting: Covers significant community stories, including the restoration of British-era fountains and the history of institutions like the 126-year-old Chinchpokli cemetery, showing a breadth of interest beyond pure administration. Tweets @nayonikakb ... Read More

Pratip Acharya

Pratip Acharya is a seasoned journalist based in Mumbai reporting for The Indian Express. With a career spanning over a decade, his work demonstrates strong Expertise and Authority in critical urban issues, civic affairs, and electoral politics across Eastern and Western India. Expertise & Authority Current Role: Journalist, The Indian Express (IE), reporting from Mumbai. Core Authority: Pratip's reporting focuses sharply on local democracy and development, specializing in: Urban Governance and Civic Affairs: Providing in-depth analysis of municipal decision-making, city planning, and local infrastructure, essential for informed urban reporting. City Politics and Environment: Covering the political dynamics of Mumbai and surrounding areas, alongside critical environmental challenges impacting the metro region. Electoral Coverage (High-Stakes Experience): He has extensive experience in high-stakes political reporting, having covered major elections, establishing his Trustworthiness in political analysis: National: Lok Sabha elections in 2014 and 2019. State: West Bengal Assembly elections in 2016 and Maharashtra Assembly elections in 2019. Major Assignments (Ground Reporting): Pratip demonstrated commitment during crises by conducting ground reporting throughout the Covid-19 pandemic since its breakout in 2020, offering first-hand accounts and analysis of the public health crisis. Experience Extensive Experience: Starting his career in 2014, Pratip has built his foundation across multiple prominent English dailies: Started at The Times of India in Kolkata (2014). Relocated to Mumbai (2016) and worked with The Free Press Journal and Hindustan Times before joining The Indian Express. Pratip Acharya's diverse experience across major publications, coupled with his specialized focus on the intricate details of urban governance and a track record of covering major electoral and health crises, establishes him as a trusted and authoritative source for news from India's critical metropolitan centres. ... Read More

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