India International Science Festival begins in Panchkula; astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla becomes the center of attraction*

*Shubhanshu Shukla shares his space mission experiences, says India looks breathtaking from space*

*Youth to play a pivotal role in building a Developed India by 2047*

*No matter the circumstances, keep trying, success will surely come: Shubhanshu Shukla*


Panchkula, December 6: The four-day India International Science Festival commenced today in Sector-5, Panchkula. The inaugural day proved highly inspiring for students, youth, and science enthusiasts. Children were especially enthusiastic to have Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla present among them.

Sharing his experiences from his space mission, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla said that the view of India from space is breathtaking, and the country appears to be “the best in the world.” He stated that during his nearly 20-day space journey, he conducted several scientific experiments and gathered crucial information for the Gaganyaan mission, which will add a new chapter to India's human spaceflight program. He also carried out experiments related to India-centric food, medicines, and innovative technologies.

Shubhanshu Shukla said that India is rapidly advancing in the field of science and technology, and it is a matter of pride for every Indian that the country is becoming increasingly self-reliant in this domain. He urged the youth, especially children, to pursue science and space research with determination. He emphasized that the responsibility of realizing the vision of a developed India by 2047 rests on the shoulders of the youth, when the youth progress, the nation progresses. He added that the growing interest in science among children is encouraging, and that teachers also have an important role in guiding them toward fulfilling their dreams of becoming astronauts.

During the interactive session, Shubhanshu Shukla responded to questions from students and youth and addressed their queries with enthusiasm. He said that the day in 2018 when Prime Minister Sh Narendra Modi announced from the Red Fort that a son or daughter of India would soon go into space, that declaration inspired him to pursue his own journey to space. From that moment onward, he began making consistent efforts in that direction. He added that regardless of circumstances, one should continue striving, as success eventually follows persistent effort.

In response to a student’s question about whether one can become an astronaut only through the Air Force, he explained that a new framework is being developed under which individuals from various fields not just the Air Force or Armed Forces will also be able to pursue a career as astronauts. He added that the inspiration he drew from Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma, India’s first astronaut, gave him the courage to reach this milestone. He expressed confidence that many more Indians will journey into space in the future.

He also said that India is now seriously working on the Gaganyaan mission and that the Aditya-L1 mission to study the Sun has been successfully launched.