Indian Air Force Group Captain and astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, a key member of the Gaganyaan mission, inspired students on Tuesday to set their sights high, encouraging them to compete with him in India’s journey toward establishing a space station and landing on the Moon. Speaking during an interaction in Bengaluru, Shukla emphasized India’s ambitious plans to advance its human spaceflight capabilities, including the ongoing Gaganyaan mission aiming for the country’s first crewed spaceflight.

Shukla highlighted the 2023 space policy that outlines India’s vision for a sustained presence in space, including development of the Bharatiya Antariksh Station (an Indian space station) and plans for a lunar landing by 2040. Quipping about the exciting competition ahead, he told students, “I am sure one of you would be, possibly, the one who sets foot on the moon, but I’m still here, so you will have to compete with me.” His words sparked enthusiasm and reflected the spirit of collaboration and challenge in India’s expanding space program.

The Gaganyaan mission, scheduled for launch by 2027, aims to demonstrate India’s indigenous ability to send humans into low Earth orbit and return them safely. Shukla, a decorated test pilot and astronaut, spoke of the pride in India launching astronauts from its own soil aboard homegrown vehicles and capsules. He described this era as “magnificent” and “exciting,” underscoring the country’s growing capabilities in space technology and research.

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Looking toward the future, Shukla linked the nation’s space ambitions with the broader vision of “Viksit Bharat” by 2047, calling on students to see themselves as key contributors to India’s transformation into a developed nation. “It is going to be your time, not ours,” he said, urging youth to actively participate in shaping India’s destiny through innovation, science, and exploration.

Shukla’s message resonates as a beacon of inspiration within India’s expanding space ecosystem, galvanizing the next generation to push boundaries and make India a leading spacefaring nation in the decades to come.

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