Aim for the Moon, Says Astronaut Shukla

Indian astronaut and Gaganyaan crew member Group Captain Subhanshu Shukla on Tuesday urged students to set ambitious goals in space exploration, stating that India’s next generation must aim for milestones such as establishing a national space station and enabling an Indian landing on the Moon.

During an interaction with students in Bengaluru, it was stated by Shukla that India’s long-term space objectives had been clearly laid out in the Indian Space Policy 2023, which includes the execution of the Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission, the construction of the Bharatiya Antariksh Station, and the achievement of a crewed Moon landing by 2040. The astronaut, who is among the four air force officers selected for India’s first human space mission, emphasised that historic opportunities awaited young Indians entering the space sector.

It was observed by Shukla that India was progressing on its own path in human spaceflight, with astronauts expected to be launched from Indian soil aboard the indigenous LVM-3 rocket and in an Indian-built crew module. He noted that this phase represented an exciting moment for the country, as India was preparing to send humans to space independently for the first time under the Gaganyaan programme.

Referring to the planned Bharatiya Antariksh (Indian Space) Station, which is currently under discussion and expected to take shape around the middle of the next decade, Shukla stated that it would serve as a major national capability in space research. He added that the government had already set a directive for an Indian astronaut to land on the Moon by 2040, aligning with the broader national vision for space advancement.

Shukla expressed curiosity about whether the first Indian on the lunar surface would be a man or a woman, and he told students that such an achievement would require dedication and competition. “I am still here, so you will have to compete with me to reach the Moon,” he remarked, encouraging students to pursue careers in science and space exploration.

Linking the space sector to national development, Shukla said that the goal of transforming India into a developed nation (Viksit Bharat) by 2047 would be driven by the efforts of today’s youth. Students were urged to believe that their generation would take India from its current stage to a fully developed nation by the time the country completes 100 years of independence.