Ahmedabad: Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, a distinguished test pilot of the Indian Air Force and the first Indian astronaut to visit the International Space Station (ISS), visited the National Institute of Design (NID) campuses in Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar on November 10 and 11, 2025.

During his historic mission to the Indian Space Station, Group Captain Shukla carried several objects and artefacts designed by NID students. These artefacts, now turned into symbolic space souvenirs, represent the creative contributions of Indian design to the nation’s space journey. He shared that these designs had received widespread appreciation at both national and international levels. Group Captain Shukla’s visit to NID was a gesture of gratitude to the institute and its students for their creativity, diligence, and contribution to this milestone in Indian space history.

Dr. Ashok Mondal, Director of NID, welcomed Group Captain Shukla and briefed him on the institute’s pedagogy, heritage, and contributions to the evolution of design education in India. The Director also reaffirmed NID’s commitment to collaborate with ISRO and other national institutions in advancing design-led innovation for nation-building.

During his two-day visit to the Gandhinagar campus, Group Captain Shukla actively engaged with students, toured the campus facilities, and participated in detailed discussions on design possibilities in space exploration. He delivered insightful sessions at both the Gandhinagar and Ahmedabad campuses, sharing his experiences with space missions and offering a national perspective on India’s space programmes.

Group Captain Shukla spoke about his spaceflight experience, mission preparations, and insights from his journey aboard the ISS. He also discussed the ongoing Gaganyaan mission, emphasizing the strategic importance of India’s space programme and its potential to inspire future generations. His interactions proved to be highly engaging, inspiring, and intellectually enriching for the students.

During his campus tour, he visited various departments and design studios, interacting with faculty members, staff, and students. He expressed admiration for the wide range of design projects underway at NID and acknowledged the institute’s commitment to fostering innovation and problem-solving through design.

Group Captain Shukla also reviewed and discussed several collaborative projects between the Human Space Flight Centre (HSFC) of ISRO and NID. He commended NID’s valuable contributions and the design excellence demonstrated in these initiatives.

He further spoke about various opportunities for NID students to collaborate with ISRO, encouraging them to apply their design expertise to projects that support India’s advancements in space technology and exploration.

Highlighting the vision of the Prime Minister and ISRO’s long-term objectives, he shared India’s plans to establish its own space station and conduct a manned lunar mission by 2040. He underscored the indispensable role of design in enhancing human experience and functionality in space missions, inspiring NID students to explore design-led solutions for the challenges of space exploration. DeshGujarat