Astronaut Shukla in Class 5 NCERT Book

New Delhi, 23 July, 2025: Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the trailblazing astronaut who became the first Indian to step onto the International Space Station (ISS), is now a part of the national educational curriculum. His poignant observations about our planet have been immortalized in the NCERT Class 5 Environmental Studies textbook titled 'Our Wondrous World', within the chapter 'Earth, Our Shared Home'. As per the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the textbook includes Shukla's comments from his historic 18-day mission on the ISS, where he said, "Upon observing Earth from the cosmos, it dawned on me that the Earth appears as a unified entity; no borders can be discerned. It seems as though no borders, states, or countries are present, only a shared home for all of humanity."

This profound message, initially shared during a dialogue with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is intended to encourage the youth to foster a sense of unity and transcend territorial divisions. Shukla's momentous voyage on the Axiom-4 mission, a collaborative commercial spaceflight initiative backed by ISRO, NASA, and Axiom Space, represents a significant leap for the Indian space program. He now stands as the second Indian to have ventured into space, following in the footsteps of Rakesh Sharma, who made his historic trip in 1984.

A Journey from Lucknow to the Stars

Born on October 10, 1985 in Lucknow, Shubanshu Shukla hails from a middle-class background with no prior family ties to the aviation or space industry. His fascination with flight was sparked by a formative childhood visit to an air show, which set the stage for an illustrious career as an Indian Air Force officer and test pilot. On June 25, 2025, Shukla embarked on a historic journey to the International Space Station (ISS) from the Kennedy Space Center, piloting SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft propelled by a Falcon 9 rocket. As the capsule reached orbit, he enthusiastically expressed his excitement and national pride in Hindi, saying, "Kamaal ki ride thi" ("It was an amazing ride"). Following an 18-day sojourn on the ISS, he made a triumphant return to Earth on July 15, 2025, thereby etching his name in the annals of Indian space exploration.

A Textbook for the Future

The inclusion of Astronaut Kalpana Chawla's reflections in the "Our Wondrous World" textbook is a significant step towards aligning with NEP 2020's integrated learning approach. This educational resource, part of the "The World Around Us" series, is designed to weave together science, social science, and environmental studies to enhance the learning experience for young students. The textbook encourages observation, ethical reasoning, and environmental awareness. It introduces innovative concepts such as DIGIPIN, which serves as a digital address identifier for precise location mapping, and explores diverse subjects ranging from oral health and microbial life to flood preparedness and food preservation techniques. By integrating Astronaut Kalpana Chawla's vision of a united planet, the publication strives to instill a sense of shared responsibility for Earth among the upcoming generations.
Photo Courtesy- axiomspace, ncert
Keywords: Shubhanshu Shukla, International Space Station, NCERT textbook, Axiom-4 mission, Indian astronaut, space journey, Our Wondrous World, National Education Policy, Earth unity, ISRO, NASA, SpaceX, environmental studies, Class 5 textbook, Indian Air Force, Lucknow, space exploration, DIGIPIN, global unity