“Many of you can become future astronauts, even walk on the Moon,” Shubhanshu Shukla instructed a bunch of excited college students throughout an interplay by newbie radio from the International Space Station on Tuesday (July 8, 2025).
Group Captain Shukla, who has now spent 12 days at the orbital laboratory, was interacting with students of seven colleges from Meghalaya and Assam who gathered at the North East Space Applications Centre (NESAC) in Shillong for the uncommon alternative to speak to an astronaut in orbit.
The students had submitted 20 inquiries to Group Captain Shukla, and he used a 10-minute window to attach with them by way of Ham radio to share his experiences on the ISS, coaching as an astronaut, and staying wholesome whereas in house.
“I will be back, and I will guide you. Many of you will become future astronauts. Stay curious, work hard, and believe in yourself, someone from you could even walk on the Moon,” Group Captain Shukla mentioned.
He mentioned life onboard the house station is just not guided by daylight, however by the clock set to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). “We don’t follow the Sun. On the ISS, we see 16 sunrises and sunsets every day because we circle the Earth every 90 minutes. Our activities aren’t guided by sunlight, but by GMT,” Group Captain Shukla mentioned.
He mentioned the human physique goes by quite a bit of adjustments in microgravity, and it was obligatory for astronauts to comply with an everyday train routine to remain wholesome in orbit. “We grow up in gravity on Earth, but here in space, there is none. The body goes through a lot of changes, and it takes some time to adapt. I experienced some space sickness at first, but there are medications, and we adapt quickly,” Group Captain Shukla mentioned.
“Microgravity causes muscle and bone loss. So, we exercise every day using treadmills, cycles, and strength training machines. It’s essential to stay fit for the mission and for our return to Earth,” he mentioned.
Stressing the significance of bodily and psychological preparation, Mr. Shukla mentioned astronauts prepare extensively in Russia, India, and different companion nations to deal with each conceivable situation, particularly emergencies. “Most of our training is about handling off-nominal situations. Teamwork and a strong support system are crucial,” he mentioned.
“Robotics and AI are integral to our mission. We use robotic arms for many internal and external tasks, making our work safer and more efficient on the Space Station,” Group Captain Shukla mentioned.
Students from Army Public School-Shillong, Alpha Higher Secondary School-Nongpoh, ARYA Vidyapith High School-Guwahati, The Christ Senior Secondary School-Umiam, PM SHRI Kendriya Vidyalaya-Barapani, The Army Public School-Umroi, and B Ok Bajoria School-Shillong had signed up for the occasion.
