Bhubaneswar – Astronaut and Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla inspired students at SAI International School, Bhubaneswar, sharing what it’s like to live and work in space during his Axiom-4 mission to the International Space Station (ISS).
Speaking at the 9th annual Science and Technology Fair under SAITED 2025, he said, “Space is super fun to live in, but highly disorienting due to zero gravity. Everything, including our bodies, floats. Even heavy cargo is easy to move with minimal effort.”
Shukla travelled aboard Space Dragon on June 25, spent 18 days at the ISS, and returned on July 15 along with three other astronauts. He described the initial adjustment to microgravity as tough and noted that re-adapting to Earth was even harder.
Encouraging young minds, he said, “I’m delighted to be in Odisha. Students here must explore space science and aerospace—their passion can take them far.” He also explained how astronauts depend on moisture-rich food to avoid particles drifting in space.
Highlighting India’s space ambitions, he shared that work on the Gaganyaan mission is progressing, and India aims to reach the Moon by 2040.
The event drew over 5,000 participants from schools across Bhubaneswar, as students listened intently, inspired to chase their dreams among the stars.
