By Sulagna Halder
Lucknow/New Delhi, 4 July 2025:
Through a live video session organised under ISRO's Vidyarthi Samvad program, Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, who is currently on board the ISS as part of Axiom4, enthralled students from his alma mater, City Montessori School (CMS), in Lucknow.
Shukla responded to a variety of children's inquiries concerning life in microgravity while in orbit, some 400 kilometers above Earth. "There is no floor and no ceiling in space," he said, reflecting on everyday activities like eating and sleeping there. He added that astronauts carry all necessary medications in case of illness and that food is one of their primary sources of comfort. "You tie yourself so you don't float away," he said. Shukla also mentioned how he lifted everyone's spirits on board the ISS by bringing traditional Indian desserts like moong dal halwa, aam ras, and gajar ka halwa.
Shukla acknowledged the difficulties of microgravity, including adjusting to movement and gaining control in zero-g, and characterised the experience as "learning like a baby" in his remarks. He reminisced about the "dynamic" launch from Kennedy Space Center on June 25 and the bizarre weightlessness experience, saying, "Nothing, you were floating."
Students at CMS reacted in wonder. As the school held a watch party featuring a simulated Mission Control Center, telescope viewings, and a replica ISS module, the air was charged with excitement. Teachers said the lesson inspired students to pursue careers in science and space exploration. Shukla's journey is a source of pride for the country. He is the first Indian to visit the International Space Station (ISS) since Rakesh Sharma in 1984 and only the second Indian in space overall. He also talked openly about the mission's emotional impact, saying that he could feel the enthusiasm of "140 crore Indians" on board the ISS.
The mission's scientific and symbolic importance was highlighted in recent meetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Modi called it "the beginning of a new era" and emphasised that India's plans for its own space station and upcoming crewed Gaganyaan missions would be informed by Shukla's experiences. As students learn more about Shukla's ongoing research on plant biology, health, and microalgae in microgravity, research that has direct applications for agriculture and medicine back on Earth, the Vidyarthi Samvad session is anticipated to continue later.
Shukla's conversation reaffirmed the significant educational value that space travel has for developing brains. He serves as a link between India's aspirational future and its historical space accomplishments as he continues his 14 day stay on board the ISS.
