'Every bone in my body shook': Shubhanshu Shukla opens up on what he felt during ISS mission

Shubhanshu Shukla

• Gp Capt Shukla shared space journey insights at World Book Fair 2026
• He encouraged students to dream big, value discipline, and embrace excitement.
• Shukla honored Rakesh Sharma, lauding persistence in astronaut careers.

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Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the first Indian to travel to the International Space Station (ISS), interacted with schoolchildren at the New Delhi World Book Fair 2026 on Tuesday, sharing insights from his space journey and encouraging students to dream big.

Addressing young students and their families, Group Captain Shukla described his mission as a collective national achievement rather than a personal milestone. “I travelled to space with a billion hearts with me,” he said, calling it the journey of the entire nation. He told students that anyone sitting among them could one day become an astronaut and lead India’s future space missions.

Shukla spoke candidly about the realities of space travel, highlighting that his 20-day stay aboard the ISS was the result of five years of intense training. He urged students to value discipline and perseverance, saying it was important to appreciate routine efforts and not just moments of excitement.

Recalling the moment of launch, he said, “As soon as the Falcon-9's engines ignited, every bone in my body trembled. It felt exactly like facing a difficult exam paper despite thorough preparation.” He also spoke openly about fear and physical strain, describing how his body reacted during launch, the difficulty in breathing, and the mental challenge of being isolated from family for long periods.

Using humour and video clips, Shukla shared memorable moments from his time in space and after returning to Earth. He spoke about accidentally dropping his laptop after landing because he forgot about gravity, listening to “Vande Mataram” from the film Fighter during his journey, and having to relearn how to walk once back on Earth.

The astronaut encouraged students to use their phones productively for reading and learning, and to explore podcasts and books. He recommended Wings of Fire by Dr APJ Abdul Kalam and spoke about resilience, explaining that fear and excitement are two sides of the same coin and that one should choose excitement over fear.

At the event, Shukla paid tribute to those who inspired his journey. Remembering India’s first astronaut Rakesh Sharma on his birthday on January 13, he said that even after four decades he could not surpass Sharma’s iconic response to how India looks from space, “saare jahaan se accha,” adding that some truths remain timeless.

He also spoke about his commander, Dr Peggy Whitson, noting that she was rejected nine times before becoming an astronaut and later went on to become the American astronaut with the highest number of days spent in space, male or female. Shukla described her journey as a powerful lesson in persistence.

Concluding his interaction, Group Captain Shukla told students that India’s future in space would be shaped not just by institutions but by individuals who choose courage over comfort and curiosity over fear, adding that someone present in the audience could one day carry India’s flag beyond Earth.