Bhubaneswar (Odisha) [India], November 27 : Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla on Wednesday participated in the state-level Science and Technology Festival 2025, inspiring young students about careers in space science and technology.
Addressing students at the event, Group Captain Shukla said, "The children are very excited. I am very happy to see that the children are very excited about the field of space. My message to them is that India has planned many missions in the future, and our private sector is also progressing very rapidly. We need these children in the field of space."
He emphasised the importance of mentorship and guidance, noting that leadership support from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and senior officials has been instrumental in advancing India's space initiatives. "This momentum needs to be maintained, and children need to be shown the right path to navigate the journey from classroom to rocket scientist, to engineer, to astronaut," he added.
Speaking about India's ambitious space plans, Group Captain Shukla shared, "We've written that we want to go to the moon by 2040. The most important trait is discipline. Today's children are very capable, very knowledgeable, and know a lot. I am already actively working with the Gaganyaan mission."
The astronaut's presence at the festival not only highlighted the government's focus on fostering scientific temper among youth but also underscored the growing opportunities in India's space sector. Students attending the event expressed enthusiasm, saying interactions with astronauts like Shukla motivate them to pursue careers in space science and aerospace engineering.
The festival featured a range of exhibits, workshops, and interactive sessions to promote innovation, research, and practical knowledge among school and college students across the state.
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla was commissioned into the Indian Air Force on 17 June 2006 as a fighter pilot in the flying branch. In 2019, he was chosen as one of four IAF officers for astronaut training under India's Gaganyaan human spaceflight programme.
In 2025, he became the first Indian astronaut to travel to the International Space Station as part of Axiom Mission 4.
During the mission, he spent 18 days conducting microgravity experiments. He returned safely on 15 July 2025, with the Government of India recognising the mission as an important step in the country's aerospace programme.