IAF Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla Urges IIT Hyderabad Students to Lead Space Missions

Indian Air Force Group Captain and Axiom-4 mission member Shubhanshu Shukla addressed students, faculty, and researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology-Hyderabad (IIT-H) on Monday, July 13, 2026. During the interactive session, Shukla called upon the academic community to prepare themselves to lead India's ambitious future in human space exploration.

Speaking to the audience at the campus, Shukla explained that India is entering a transformative phase in space exploration. He highlighted the country's upcoming plans, which include establishing the Bharatiya Antariksh Station and sending an Indian astronaut to the moon by the year 2040.

According to Shukla, achieving these landmark goals will require a brand-new generation of engineers, scientists, and innovators. He stressed that these future professionals must equip themselves with interdisciplinary knowledge, strong research skills, and a deep spirit of innovation.

Emphasizing the critical importance of continuous learning, Shukla urged the IIT-H students to shift their perspective on their potential careers. He advised them to see themselves not merely as participants in the sector, but as the future leaders who will drive India’s space programme forward.

"Our ambitions of building the Bharatiya Antariksh Station and sending an Indian to the moon will become reality only when today’s students choose to build that future," Shukla said. "Don’t think of it as an opportunity to be part of India’s space programme; think of it as your responsibility to make it happen. The sky was never the limit, not for me, not for you, and not for Bharat."

Following his address, the event concluded with an interactive discussion. The students, faculty, and researchers engaged with the Group Captain on several topics, including the details of astronaut selection, the realities of life in space, and the emerging opportunities currently arising in India’s growing space sector.