Hey kids! 

Do you love rockets, stars, and space adventures?

Well, guess what? Something AMAZING just happened.

A real-life space hero from India, Shubhanshu Shukla, has gone all the way to outer space! 

Yes, you read that right!  He is now floating high above Earth, living in a giant space lab called the International Space Station (ISS)! Let’s take off together and learn more about his exciting journey. Buckle up! 

Who Is Shubhanshu Shukla?

Shubhanshu Shukla is an Indian Air Force officer who dreamed of going to space and made it happen! Just like how you have dreams of becoming astronauts, scientists, or even space explorers, he had the same dream when he was a kid.

He worked really hard, studied science and math, and trained his body and brain to be super strong and smart. Now, he’s one of the very few Indians who’ve had the chance to fly to space!

What Is the Axiom Mission?

You might be wondering, “What is this Axiom Mission everyone is talking about?”

The Axiom Mission is a special spaceflight where astronauts from around the world go to the International Space Station. It’s like a big science lab in space that orbits (goes around) the Earth! In this mission, astronauts do cool science experiments, float in zero gravity (yes! they literally float like balloons!), and even look at our blue planet from up above. 

And now, guess who’s one of the crew members? That’s right! Shubhanshu Shukla! 

What Is It Like in Space?

Get ready  because space life is totally different from life on Earth! 

In space:

• There’s no gravity, so astronauts like Shubhanshu float around like balloons! Even their food and pencils float!
• They sleep standing up in special sleeping bags that are stuck to the walls  otherwise, they’d float away while snoozing!
• Their food comes in pouches and they have to squeeze it out or slurp it up! Sometimes they use a magnetic spoon so it doesn’t float off!
• Even going to the bathroom is tricky! They use super high-tech space toilets that suck things down with air!

And guess what? While doing all that, Shubhanshu is also helping scientists by doing cool experiments to see how space changes things like the human body and plants. Isn’t that awesome? 

What Is the International Space Station?

The ISS is a big spaceship that goes around Earth at a super fast speed. It orbits Earth 16 times every day which means astronauts see 16 sunrises and 16 sunsets in just one day!  It’s where astronauts like Shubhanshu live and work during their time in space. Inside the ISS, there are computers, cameras, labs, and even exercise bikes! Because there’s no gravity, astronauts have to exercise daily to keep their muscles strong.

Can you imagine doing jumping jacks while floating? 

Why Is Shubhanshu’s Journey Special for India?

India is so proud of Shubhanshu! 

He is one of the first Indian Air Force officers to be part of the Axiom Space program. His journey shows the whole world how smart, strong, and talented Indians are.

Also, it helps young kids like YOU see what’s possible if you dream big and work hard.

Just like India’s past space heroes like Rakesh Sharma (India’s first man in space) and Kalpana Chawla, Shubhanshu is inspiring the next generation of space explorers. Maybe one day, you’ll be writing your name on a rocket too! 

Ready to Reach for the Stars?

Shubhanshu Shukla’s space adventure shows us that dreams really can come true even the ones that zoom all the way into space!  So, if you love stars, rockets, and science, start your space journey today. Ask questions, read space books, build cool things, and never stop being curious!

Who knows? One day, you might be the next astronaut we’re all cheering for!