'Being still is a challenge': Shubhanshu Shukla shares video of 'floating' inside International Space Station

Shukla scripted history by becoming the first Indian to travel to the International Space Station with the longest stint - 20 days - in orbit around the Earth.

Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, who returned to Earth on July 15 after an 18-day stay on the International Space Station (ISS), recently posted a video of himself on Instagram, showing snippets of his time in space.

In the video Shukla can be seen 'floating' and practicing staying absolutely still in microgravity.

Shukla posted the video along with a caption which read, "From the time we reached the ISS, we were quite busy chasing the timeline and completing our tasks and experiments. It is a bit challenging initially, as you are learning to move in microgravity and also getting to know the station."

Shukla wrote, "This video was a few days into the mission when I finally had better control over my movements. What I wanted to do was to be just still - but clearly failed."

The caption further read, "Any small disturbance can move your body in space, and it takes skill to be completely still. Kind of like our minds in this fast moving world. Take some time to be still today. It is important to sometimes slow down to be fast. Apparently, being still is a challenge - with or without gravity."

Lucknow-born Shukla and three other astronauts of the private Axiom-4 mission splashed down in the Pacific Ocean off the San Diego coast in California in the pre-dawn darkness at 2:31 am Pacific Time (3:01 pm IST) amid cheers from the citizens of India, literally on the other side of the world.

He scripted history by becoming the first Indian to travel to the International Space Station, and the second Indian to travel to space after Rakesh Sharma in 1984.

The Axiom-4 crew underwent a series of medical checks on board the ship before boarding a helicopter for a ride back to the shore.

ISRO said Shukla has successfully completed all seven microgravity experiments and other planned activities, achieving a significant milestone in the Axiom-4 mission.