ILITARY LITERATURE FESTIVAL 2026: URGES STUDENTS TO FOLLOW DREAMS WITH COURAGE AND WILLPOWER TO SUCCEED
Face2News/Chandigarh
Underlining that he never felt alone as whole of nation was part of his mission to Space, Group Captain Shubanshu Shukla, Ashok Chakra on Saturday listed out his real mission to see a fellow Indian plant the Tricolour on the Moon by 2040.
“After Axiom, I am actively engaged in preparing our national mission Gangayaan succeed and further contribute towards our India’s growth and prosperity”, Group Captain Shukla said here while delivering a talk at the 10th Military Literature Festival here today.
The specially curated session named “From Fighter Cockpit to Space Craft: India’s New Frontier in Air and Space Power” witnessed Group Captain Shukla, Ashok Chakra deliver a detailed and engrossing presentation of his 20 days and 3 hours journey on Axiom Mission 4 in June 2025 to space and back, at MLF today.
A joint initiative of the Punjab government, Chandigarh Administration and HeadquartersWestern Command at Chandimandir, the annual Military Literature Festival (MLF) offers youngsters aspiring to join the defence forces a peep into the discipline of Military life, besides laying an engrossing platform for discussions on issues of national, international and geo-political salience.
The internationally recognised Astronaut shared his experience of taking off from the International Space Station (ISS) in US on the Space Capsule as “violent and chaotic” much opposite to his expectations.
“As we lifted off from the International Space Station (ISS) it crossed my mind as to whether I had made the right decision to travel to space” Group Captain Shukla said adding that initial anxiety and confusion are inbuilt in any challenge.
Urging youngsters to take up science to follow their dreams with courage, he said classrooms foster audacious dreams which have to be nurtured with courage and spirit to succeed and serve the society.
Sharing his inflight experience of staying in Space X Falcon 9 rocket for over 20 days, he said the loss of gravity makes you feel awkward at first.
“You grow taller in size; your heart becomes smaller in size and there are numerous physical and mental changes you feel while in space. Though you prepare for each challenge, the real power comes to you from your conviction to go back and serve the society through research,” he added.
Motivating youngsters to take up challenges in the right spirit, Group Captain Shukla shared with the audience that Mission Director Dr. Peggy Whitson endured 9 rejections for her application as Astronaut before being chosen to fly to space at the age of 39.
“That Dr. Whitson now has the longest stay in space is motivation to all those feeling negative at any stage in their life, he added.
