Bhubaneswar: Astronaut and IAF Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla inspired over 5,000 students at SAITED 2025, one of India’s largest school-based science and technology festivals, held at SAI International School. The event was envisioned by the late Dr. Bijaya Kumar Sahoo, Founder of SAI International Education Group, and attracted students from government and private schools across Bhubaneswar and Cuttack.
In his keynote address, Shukla shared his extraordinary journey from training to traveling aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and returning via splashdown off the coast of San Diego, California.
“My mission actually started last year in August and culminated with the ISS journey. This mission is a precursor to what India aims to achieve with Mission Gaganyaan, where we plan to launch an Indian astronaut into space and return them safely using completely indigenous technology,” he said.
The astronaut encouraged students to dream big about the future of space exploration.
“By 2040, some of you may be among the first to set foot on the Moon. Imagine the possibilities,” Shukla said, highlighting India’s ambitious plans, including the Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS)—a fully Indian space laboratory that will orbit the Earth and facilitate global scientific research.
Shukla also emphasised the importance of curiosity and discipline. Recounting his interactions with young children earlier that day, he said, “A second-grade student asked me how to calculate the burn for a moon mission. At eight years old, this kind of curiosity is amazing. It shows that students are already thinking and researching deeply.”
During an interactive session, students posed questions about skills needed to work at ISRO. Smiling, Shukla replied, “The single most important skill is ‘Discipline.’ You don’t need a specific skill to work anywhere in the world, but discipline will take you far.”
He also shared advice about life and learning, “When adults tell you to do something, please listen. Most of the time, it is for your own good, even if it may stop you from having fun.”
The festival featured detailed presentations on India’s space missions, technology, and the mission cycle, giving students a first-hand understanding of how human space exploration works.
The inaugural ceremony was graced by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi as the Chief Guest, with Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla featured as the SAITED Speaker.
The event successfully combined inspiration, knowledge, and interaction, leaving students motivated to explore science, technology, and space research from an early age.
