Captain Shubhanshu Shukla Sets Goal for Indian Flag on Moon by 2040

Captain Shubhanshu Shukla stated on Saturday that his real mission is to see an Indian plant the Tricolour on the Moon by 2040. Speaking at the 10th Military Literature Festival, the astronaut shared details of his journey during Axiom Mission 4, which took him to space and back in June 2025 for a duration of 20 days and 3 hours. He noted that he never felt alone because the entire nation was part of the mission. Currently, he is actively working on preparing India's national mission Gaganyaan for success. During a session titled "From Fighter Cockpit to Spacecraft: India's New Frontier in Air and Space Power", Shukla described leaving the International Space Station on a Space Capsule as violent and chaotic, leading to initial doubts and anxiety. He also discussed the physical impacts of spending over 20 days in a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, including growing taller and heart size changes due to the loss of gravity. To motivate youth, he shared the story of Mission Director Dr Peggy Whitson, who faced nine rejections before flying to space at age 39. In a separate panel titled "Turbulent World Order: Where India Stands", experts warned that China is far ahead of the US and urged India to strengthen its security through innovations in space, cyber, and Artificial Intelligence. Strategic affairs expert Sushant Sareen added that no nation can rely entirely on another, as every country prioritizes its own needs. The Military Literature Festival itself is a joint initiative of the Punjab government, the Chandigarh administration, and the Western Command Headquarters at Chandimandir.

Context

Captain Shubhanshu Shukla's historic journey marks a major milestone in India's expanding human spaceflight program. Events like the Military Literature Festival serve as a platform to connect military heritage and modern defense achievements with the general public and students.