Goa: Goa became the stage for an extraordinary convergence of space, education, and inspiration as Indian Air Force Group Captain and astronaut Shubhanshu Sukla addressed educators at the 56th National Convention of the All India Association of Catholic Schools (AINACS). Held at the Park Regis Convention Centre in Arpora, the event centered on the theme, “Ignite Minds, Exploring Frontiers: The Convergence of Space, Education, and Industry”, with Captain Sukla sharing his remarkable journey from test pilot to astronaut and the profound lessons it holds for teaching and learning.
Speaking to a packed auditorium of school principals, teachers, and youth leaders, Captain Sukla offered vivid insights into the challenges of space re-entry and human adaptation. He recounted the astonishing physical and psychological effects of returning to Earth from microgravity, using video clips to illustrate the struggle of even simple movements. “When you come back from microgravity, even lifting your neck to look out of a window feels incredibly heavy,” he explained. “I thought we were under two or three Gs because of the strain but it was only 0.3 G. The transition is drastic.” He described his first steps post-splashdown, saying, “I had the strength, but my mind had forgotten how much effort walking takes. Every step felt like falling unless someone supported me.” These experiences, he noted, highlight endurance, adaptability, and self-belief qualities equally crucial on Earth.
Captain Sukla also emphasized the power of curiosity and resilience in education. He urged teachers to nurture students’ inquisitiveness, saying, “When children ask, ‘How do I become an astronaut?’ that’s a true victory. Our role is to guide them from where they are to where they want to be, instilling the right values along the way.” Drawing parallels between space exploration and the uncertainties of the future, he remarked, “When we think of sending someone to Mars, we don’t even know the questions we want to answer. That’s the mindset we must cultivate in our students.”
Reflecting on his personal journey, Captain Sukla revealed the rigorous path from a test pilot to astronaut. Selected from 72 applicants for India’s human spaceflight programme in 2018, only four were chosen after eight months of demanding physical, medical, and psychological evaluations. “Psychological fitness was crucial it ranked very high,” he noted. Despite not dreaming of space as a child, he credited his perseverance, shaped by training at the National Defence Academy and the Air Force, for his achievements: “If someone else can do it, so can I. We all have the same hands, legs, one brain, and two eyes so why not me?”
In a heartfelt tribute, Captain Sukla acknowledged his teachers, saying, “I stand before you not just as a Group Captain or astronaut, but as a proud product of our education system. The values my teachers gave me shaped who I am.” He concluded with a visionary call: “Let’s not wait another 41 years to send someone into space. Let’s send 41 people in one year. It will take all of us educators and explorers alike to make that dream real.”
His inspiring words resonated deeply with the audience, rekindling educators’ commitment to spark curiosity, courage, and purpose in the next generation of young minds.