Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla Unveils Memoir 'The Second Orbit' to Inspire India's Youth

New Delhi, June 25, 2026 — Indian Air Force Group Captain and astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla unveiled his inaugural memoir, The Second Orbit: Belief of a Man… Dreams of 1.4 Billion Hearts, at a ceremony held in the capital. The book launch marked the first anniversary of his groundbreaking space mission to the International Space Station (ISS) as part of Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) in June 2025.

Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh, Chief of the Air Staff, officially released the memoir, which was published by Vintage Books under Penguin Random House India. The book offers a detailed narrative of Group Captain Shukla’s journey from fighter pilot in the Indian Air Force to becoming the first Indian astronaut to visit the ISS. It narrates the stringent selection and training process, the hurdles of space travel, life on the station, and the personal reflections tied to this historic mission.

During the launch, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla shared insights into the creation of the book:

“It was a unique experience and I never thought I would write such a huge book… I wanted to share my experience with everyone, which is why I started this last year. It was difficult but equally important, otherwise it would have only stayed with me… I hope it serves to both educate and inspire children…”

The astronaut highlighted the book’s purpose as a medium to extend his experiences beyond face-to-face interactions. Understanding the vastness of India and the impracticality of visiting every school, he intended the memoir to be a lasting resource to expose young readers across the country to the realities of space exploration.

Group Captain Shukla, who was awarded the Ashoka Chakra, India’s highest peacetime gallantry recognition, during the Republic Day celebrations in 2026 for his contributions to the national space programme, has been closely involved with India's human spaceflight goals. He is one of the astronauts chosen for the Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) Gaganyaan mission, India's first indigenous crewed space venture.

The 342-page memoir begins with a letter that a 14-year-old Shubhanshu Shukla wrote to his future self and includes a foreword by Wing Commander (Retd) Rakesh Sharma, the first Indian in space. The memoir blends technical details with personal anecdotes, offering readers, especially students and defence aspirants, a genuine view of discipline, resilience, and the pursuit of challenging objectives.

The Delhi launch event garnered significant attention from defence and scientific circles, highlighting the rising public interest in India’s expanding involvement in human space exploration. Group Captain Shukla expressed hope that his book would inspire the younger generation to believe in achieving extraordinary feats through commitment and hard work.

The Second Orbit: Belief of a Man… Dreams of 1.4 Billion Hearts is currently available in bookstores nationwide.