New Delhi, July 8 -- Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the first Indian at the International Space Station (ISS) as part of Axion Mission 4, on Tuesday held an inspirational interaction with the students at the North Eastern Space Applications Centre (NESAC) in Meghalaya, expressing confidence that many children from "small towns, big towns and all kinds of towns" across India will one day become astronauts in the future.

"I think they can and they will. Just keep working hard, and I am going to be back there and will guide you. I am very sure a lot of kids from small towns, big towns, and all kinds of towns will become astronauts in the future," the Group Captain said through a ham radio call from the space station, encouraging the young...