Astronaut Now a Recognized Profession in India, Says 'Gaganyatri' Shukla; Urges Youth to Aim for Moon

• 'Gaganyatri' Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla declared 'astronaut' a recognized profession in India, opening vast opportunities for young minds.
• Speaking at the Pune Literature Festival, Shukla encouraged students to aim for the moon, citing India's ambitious space goals like Gaganyaan, a Bharatiya Space Station, and a 2040 moon landing.
• Shukla, born after Rakesh Sharma's flight, shared his journey, emphasizing that becoming an astronaut is now an achievable reality, not just a dream, for Indian youth.
• He recounted his 18-day mission to the International Space Station (ISS) from June 25 to July 15, becoming the first Indian to do so, describing the intense launch and the profound experience of seeing Earth as one home.
• His ISS mission, part of Axiom-4 and Expedition 73, involved scientific experiments and marked a new chapter for India's space program and international cooperation.

Why It Matters: India's space program is booming; becoming an astronaut is now a tangible career path for youth.