Shubhanshu Shukla Becomes First Indian in 40 Years to Reach Space, Inspires Young Stargazers Across India
July 12, 2025 – As the International Space Station (ISS) crosses Indian skies this week, schoolchildren across the country are eagerly watching for a glimpse—many with their eyes fixed on one man: Shubhanshu Shukla. The Indian Air Force test pilot and engineer has become the first Indian in four decades to travel to space, serving as a pilot on the Axiom Mission 4 to the ISS.
Shukla, affectionately called “Shux” by his colleagues, is now only the second Indian to reach orbit after Rakesh Sharma’s historic mission in 1984. His presence aboard the ISS has sparked a wave of enthusiasm among young Indians, especially in classrooms where space science has suddenly taken center stage.
“What if he finds evidence of intelligent life? Or discovers how we could live on other planets?” wonders Deborshi Halder, a 15-year-old student from Kalash High School in West Bengal. His classmate Sabnam Sireen raises a concern: “But if other planets become livable, won’t we pollute them too?”
Both students are participants in a space science workshop conducted by the Life-To and Beyond Foundation, a non-profit founded in 2022 by science communicator Sibsankar Palit. The foundation is known for bringing interactive, hands-on science education to students across India, particularly in underserved areas like tribal regions in Sukma, Chhattisgarh.
“We can’t depend only on textbooks. Kids need interactive tools to really get curious,” says Palit, who has led over 30 such workshops nationwide.
At a recent event in Kalash High School, students built paper orreries and spacecraft models. Although the school has limited resources, including a small science lab, teachers like Saikat Ganguly are committed to finding innovative ways to teach astronomy.
The results are tangible. Students like Fardin Ahmed, 14, now understand the immensity of the universe beyond just textbook definitions.
“I knew the planets from books, but now I realize we are just a speck in an infinite galaxy,” says Fardin.
For Imrana Rahaman and Labiba Naaz, both 15, the thrill lies in tracking the ISS through a planetarium app installed on their parents’ phones. They hope to catch sight of the space station and wave to Shukla as it passes overhead on Saturday night, skies permitting.
“They’ve been tracking Shukla’s location in real time,” says Ganguly. “It’s become part of their daily routine.”
Most of the students at Kalash are first-generation learners from modest backgrounds. Palit emphasizes that science dreams are not limited to cities, reminding students that India’s own space journey began in Thumba, a quiet fishing village in Kerala, where the first Indian rocket was launched in 1963.
As India’s gaze turns skyward, inspired by Shukla’s journey, one thing is clear: a new generation of space enthusiasts is rising—armed with curiosity, creativity, and hope.
