New Delhi, June 25, 2026 — Indian Air Force Group Captain and astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla today launched his debut memoir, The Second Orbit: Belief of a Man… Dreams of 1.4 Billion Hearts, at a ceremony in the national capital. The event coincided with the first anniversary of his historic spaceflight 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, released the book, published by Vintage Books under Penguin Random House India. The memoir provides a first-hand account of Group Captain Shukla’s journey from a fighter pilot in the Indian Air Force to becoming the first Indian to set foot on the ISS. It details the rigorous selection and training process, the challenges of human spaceflight, life aboard the station, and the personal reflections that accompanied this landmark mission.
Speaking at the launch, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla reflected on the writing process:
“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 emphasised that the book was conceived as a means to extend the reach of his experiences beyond personal interactions. Recognising the vastness of the country and the impossibility of visiting every classroom, he viewed the memoir as an enduring medium to make the realities of space exploration accessible to young readers across India.
Group Captain Shukla, who was conferred the Ashoka Chakra — India’s highest peacetime gallantry award — on Republic Day 2026 for his contribution to the nation’s space programme, has long been associated with India’s human spaceflight ambitions. He is one of the astronauts selected for the Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) Gaganyaan mission, the country’s first indigenous crewed spaceflight.
The 342-page memoir opens with a letter written by a 14-year-old Shubhanshu Shukla to his future self and includes a foreword by Wing Commander (Retd) Rakesh Sharma, the first Indian in space. It combines technical insights with deeply personal anecdotes, offering readers — particularly students and defence aspirants — an authentic perspective on discipline, resilience, and the pursuit of seemingly impossible goals.
The launch event in Delhi drew attention from the defence and scientific communities, underscoring the growing public interest in India’s expanding role in human space exploration. Group Captain Shukla expressed hope that the book would encourage the next generation to believe that extraordinary achievements are attainable through dedication and perseverance.
The Second Orbit: Belief of a Man… Dreams of 1.4 Billion Hearts is now available in bookstores across the country.
