Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the first Indian to visit the International Space Station (ISS) as part of the Axion Mission 4, addressed students at the North Eastern Space Applications Centre (NESAC) in Meghalaya. He expressed his belief that children from both small and large towns across India would realize their astronaut dreams. Speaking via ham radio, he encouraged the young audience to pursue their aspirations relentlessly. Shukla, who launched to the ISS on June 25, shared insights into his journey, highlighting the challenges of space travel and the similarities between his training as a fighter pilot and astronaut training. He discussed the unique conditions aboard the ISS, including microgravity and increased radiation, and emphasized the importance of health maintenance through exercise. He also stressed the significance of safety and emergency preparedness, and described his awe-inspiring view of Earth from space. The mission, part of Axiom Mission 4, launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket, with Shukla serving as Mission Pilot.
