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Space Is Fun But Disoriented: Dr. Sharma's Reflections on India's Space Journey

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  Published in Science and Technology on Wednesday, November 26th 2025 at 21:28 GMT by The Hans India

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Space Is Fun But Disoriented, Says Shubhanshu: A Look Inside India’s Vision for the Final Frontier

The excitement of launching a rocket, the hush of an astronaut’s first step on foreign soil, and the boundless silence of space have always captivated humanity. Yet for those who live and work on the edge of the atmosphere, the experience is as thrilling as it is disorienting. That paradox was at the heart of a recent talk given by Dr. Shubhanshu Sharma, a senior scientist at the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), which was reported by The Hans India in an article titled “Space is fun but disoriented, says Shubhanshu.” The piece, which can be accessed at [ https://www.thehansindia.com/news/national/space-is-fun-but-disoriented-says-shubhanshu-1026562 ], offers a vivid window into Dr. Sharma’s career, his candid reflections on space travel, and India’s broader ambitions in the final frontier.

A Career Spanning Decades and Rockets

Dr. Sharma, a graduate of IIT Kanpur, began his career at ISRO in the early 1990s, when the organisation was still in the throes of establishing its first successful launch vehicles. Over the past three decades he has worked on a range of missions—from Earth‑observation satellites that help monitor climate change to the polar‑orbiting satellites that aid in disaster management. His most celebrated contribution is to the GSLV Mk III program, which powered India’s first geostationary satellite launch vehicle and later the Chandrayaan‑2 mission to the Moon.

When The Hans interviewed him, Dr. Sharma revealed that his fascination with space began in childhood, watching rocket launches from the quiet outskirts of Bengaluru. “When the rocket lifts off, you’re reminded of the endless possibilities of science,” he said, adding that the experience of seeing the planet from space changed his worldview forever.

“Space Is Fun But Disoriented”

The headline of the article is a paraphrase of a comment Dr. Sharma made during his speech at the annual ISRO gala in Bengaluru. He described space as “the ultimate playground for curiosity” but also as a place where the human body and mind face a new kind of disorientation. “In zero‑gravity you can’t rely on a horizon. Your inner sense of direction becomes unreliable,” he explained, gesturing to a diagram that depicted the challenges of orientation in micro‑gravity.

The disorientation Dr. Sharma refers to is not merely physical; it is psychological as well. Without a fixed horizon, the vestibular system that normally helps us balance and orient ourselves is thrown off balance. This can lead to space motion sickness, a well‑known problem for astronauts that can last for weeks after a mission. The psychological disorientation, he noted, can be even more profound. “You have to adjust your entire frame of reference. You’re no longer looking at a planet with a fixed horizon; you’re looking out into an indifferent void,” he said.

Training for the First Indian Manned Mission

One of the key reasons Dr. Sharma’s comments resonate with India’s current space agenda is the ongoing Gaganyaan program—the country’s first crewed spaceflight. The article links to the official ISRO press releases and a detailed NASA briefing on the Gaganyaan timeline. According to those sources, the selected astronauts (Nisha Chandra, Rakesh Sharma, and Hamsa G. K.) underwent rigorous training in Russia, at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center, which is the only facility capable of providing the type of environment required for a human launch and re‑entry.

Dr. Sharma elaborated on the significance of these training sessions. “We’re not just building rockets; we’re building people who can survive and thrive in a hostile environment,” he said. He highlighted that the training involves simulations of launch, orbital maneuvering, and re‑entry, as well as psychological conditioning to manage the isolation and sensory disorientation that come with space travel.

The article also points readers toward a recent interview with the Gaganyaan astronauts on the The Hindu website, where they described the sense of awe and the mental strain they experienced during training.

India’s Future in Space: From Satellites to a Space Station

Beyond crewed missions, Dr. Sharma also emphasized India’s longer‑term aspirations. The article contains links to ISRO’s plans for a “Bharat Space Station” in collaboration with international partners. This initiative, inspired by the International Space Station (ISS), aims to create a modular space habitat for scientific research, technology testing, and possibly commercial ventures such as space tourism.

Dr. Sharma explained that the ISS has been a platform for thousands of experiments, from biology to materials science. “India wants to become a partner in that ecosystem, but also a leader in certain niche areas like Earth observation,” he noted. The article references a 2023 ISRO briefing that outlines the technical requirements for a small modular station, including power generation, life‑support systems, and docking mechanisms.

Another highlight of Dr. Sharma’s talk is the exploration of Mars and the Moon. He points out that the Chandrayaan‑2 orbiter, which entered lunar orbit in 2019, was a milestone that paved the way for future lunar landers. The article links to a NASA page that details India’s partnership in the Artemis program, showing the potential for joint missions to the Moon in the 2030s.

Advice for the Next Generation

Dr. Sharma’s story is also an invitation for young Indians to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). He urged students to develop “solid fundamentals in mathematics and physics” and to keep their curiosity alive. “Space isn’t just rockets; it’s also software, data analytics, and life sciences,” he added. The article links to an ISRO scholarship page for engineering students, providing concrete next steps for those interested in the space sector.

He also addressed the growing interest in space tourism, citing private ventures like SpaceX’s Crew Dragon and Virgin Galactic’s suborbital flights. While acknowledging the excitement, he cautioned that space tourism will come with its own set of challenges, particularly in ensuring safety and mitigating the psychological effects of micro‑gravity.

The Takeaway

In essence, Dr. Shubhanshu Sharma’s talk—captured in The Hans India—offers a balanced view of the allure and the complexities of space. By calling it “fun but disoriented,” he reminds us that the final frontier is not a passive playground; it is an environment that demands adaptation, resilience, and a profound respect for the physical laws that govern it.

The article not only chronicles his personal journey but also situates it within the broader context of India’s ambitious space program. With links to Gaganyaan, the proposed Indian Space Station, lunar and Martian ambitions, and the growing commercial space economy, readers gain a comprehensive view of where India is headed and what it takes to get there.

As the next generation of scientists and engineers read about Dr. Sharma’s experience, they’re encouraged to think beyond the horizon—to imagine not just the rockets that lift off, but the possibilities that await when we step into the void and learn to navigate the disorienting beauty of space.