Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the first Indian to reach the International Space Station on the Axion Mission 4, inspired students at the North Eastern Space Applications Centre (NESAC) in Meghalaya. He expressed his confidence that children from all over India, regardless of their hometown, could become astronauts. He motivated them through a ham radio call, encouraging them to work hard to achieve their goals. Shukla, who launched on June 25, discussed his journey and challenges during astronaut training. He detailed similarities between his training as an IAF fighter pilot and astronaut training, with a special emphasis on the data aspect. He highlighted the unique conditions on the ISS, including microgravity and radiation. He described the importance of health maintenance using exercise equipment. Safety and preparedness were paramount, with Shukla mentioning rigorous training for emergencies. He shared his awe-inspiring perspective of Earth from space. Shukla was the Mission Pilot for the Axiom Mission 4, which launched from Kennedy Space Centre aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 and successfully docked with the ISS.
