During a special ham‑radio session on July 8, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, currently aboard the International Space Station as part of Axiom-4, urged students at the North East Space Applications Centre (NESAC) in Shillong to aim high and dream big about space exploration.

Shukla spoke with pupils from seven schools across Meghalaya and Assam, answering 20 pre-submitted questions within a 10‑minute window. With warmth and authority, he said, “Stay curious, work hard, and believe in yourself - someone from you could even walk on the Moon”.

He offered rare insights into life aboard the ISS: operating on Greenwich Mean Time, witnessing 16 sunrises and sunsets daily, coping with space motion sickness, and maintaining health through rigorous exercise routines. Students from schools like Army Public School–Shillong and Kendriya Vidyalaya–Barapani were thrilled at the experience, echoing Shukla’s message of perseverance, scientific curiosity, and belief in one’s potential.

The session was part of ISRO’s broader Vidyarthi Samvad Programme - a global outreach channel to inspire young minds. Shukla’s message resonated especially deeply in the Northeast, where access to space education remains limited. His words reaffirmed that, regardless of background, with determination and opportunity, any student can reach for the stars.