Lucknow, 29 May : Enthralled by the touchdown of Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the students and faculty of his alma mater CMS Aliganj, affectionately welcomed their 'Guardian of the Galaxy' to share his journey from the classroom of CMS to the CosMoS.

Group Captain Shukla reminisced about his school days and the pivotal role CMS played in shaping his educational and career aspirations.

As a fighter pilot in the Indian Air Force in 2006 to his current role as a ISRO astronaut, Shubhanshu's thought-provoking journey attracted a universe of questions from the young explorers. His insightful responses about the extra-terrestrial habitat, the unifing experience of viewing Earth without borders from space, the interdisciplinary approach to education that integrates various fields of knowledge and the indispensable role of physical fitness, discipline and consistency left the audience immersed and reflective.

In 2019, Shubhanshu was among the final four candidates selected for ISRO’s prestigious Gaganyaan program. He trained at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Russia and received the astronaut’s wings from Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 27, 2024.

Reflecting on Shubhanshu's remarkable achievements, CMS Manager, Prof. Geeta Gandhi Kingdon, expressed profound pride and highlighted CMS's commitment to nurturing every child's potential. Senior Principal Mrs. Jyoti Kashyap and Principal Mrs. Shivani Singh extended heartfelt congratulations to Shubhanshu, lauding his exemplary feat and urging students to draw inspiration from his journey as they chart their own paths towards success.

Group Captain Shubhanshu's visit not only ignited the students’ passion for space exploration but also reinforced the values of hard work, health, and holistic learning. The event generated a renewed thirst for knowledge and commitment towards capacity building for both students and teachers.