‘Sky was never the limit’ : Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla takes students on a journey to space at Goa Book Festival 2026

Goa Khabar : “I travelled to space with a billion hearts with me. Sky was never the limit, not for me, not for you,” said Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, AC, the first Indian to travel to the International Space Station, at the first edition of the Goa Book Festival.

Addressing an audience of over 1,200 school students, the astronaut spoke about his journey to space, the future of India’s space programme, and offered rare, candid insights into the challenges, discipline and defining moments of life beyond Earth.

In a session moderated by Yuvraj Malik, Director, National Book Trust, India, Group Captain Shukla, AC, took young students on an inspiring and deeply personal journey, speaking openly about fear, resilience and perseverance. Recalling the moment the Falcon 9 rocket’s engines ignited, he admitted that he “forgot all his training” likening the experience to the anxiety of seeing an examination question paper despite weeks of preparation. He spoke candidly about the intense physical strain of launch, showing a video of him breathing during the take off, as well as the mental challenge of isolation away from family.

Using videos and humour, he brought life in space closer to the students. He shared unforgettable moments such as playing basketball in zero gravity using a fellow astronaut instead of a ball, walking on ceilings in zero gravity, dropping his laptop after returning to Earth because he momentarily forgot gravity exists, and listening to “Vande Mataram” from the film Fighter while heading to the launch pad to gather strength for the journey ahead. He also spoke about the long process of relearning how to walk in gravity after returning to Earth.

Responding to questions from children, the astronaut spoke about the foods he missed most in space and the emotional difficulty of being separated from his family during pre-launch isolation and the mission itself. Emphasising resilience, he reflected on fear, describing it as worrying about the future, and urged students to focus on the present, keep their goals in sight, and not allow small setbacks to diminish their spirit to learn, grow and serve the nation.

He recalled the words of India’s first astronaut Rakesh Sharma, affirming that Sharma’s 1984 statement remains true that India looks “saare jahaan se accha” from space. Speaking about India’s space ambitions, he talked of the Gaganyaan mission and plans for India’s own space station, telling students that the country’s future in space would be shaped by their dreams and aspirations.

Explaining complex scientific concepts in an engaging, fun-filled manner, he shared that he was Astronaut No. 634 to cross the Kármán line, the internationally recognised boundary between Earth’s atmosphere and outer space at an altitude of 100 kilometres. He also showed students a video he captured from space, offering a breathtaking view of India from above.

Reflecting on identity, he said, “We often think of our city or school as our identity. When we move away from India, our country becomes our identity. But when we go beyond this planet, we all become humans and the Earth is our home.”

Concluding the session, Group Captain Shukla urged students to work towards India’s future in space, reminding them that dreams, when combined with discipline and courage, can truly defy gravity.