Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla at Idea Exchange: ‘Today’s kids are brilliant… you have to be with a dream for a long time, work on it, only then will it happen’

Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla discussed his experiences as an astronaut during an Idea Exchange session. The session was moderated by Amitabh Sinha, Climate and Science Editor at The Indian Express. Shukla shared how the idea for his book, "The Second Orbit," came about, starting with a 14-year-old Shukla writing to his future self. He explained that he realized a book was a good way to relive those moments, as he couldn't be everywhere, in every school or college.

Shukla elaborated on the year-long training process, describing the excitement, anxiety, and sheer scale of achievement. He emphasized the importance of being a follower, learning from others, and unlearning some of his own ideas. During the Gaganyaan mission, Shukla faced unexpected crisis moments, but he learned to navigate them as he was taught to manage the harsh environment of space.

He also noted the differences between Axiom Space's private company approach and ISRO's government-run program. Axiom Space coordinates missions and doesn't own the hardware, unlike ISRO. Shukla concluded by stating that while he trained colleagues from ISRO, he was the juniormost among them. He highlighted the importance of enjoying one's career, as astronauts only spend about 1.5 years of a 40-year career in space.