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New Delhi: Two ISRO Gaganyatris, Shubhanshu Shukla and Prasanth Nair attended the two day Indian DefSpace Symposium 2026, organised by the Indian Space Association, the Industry Body and forum to voice the aspirations of commercial space players in the country. Lt Gen AK Bhatt (retd), Director General of the Indian Space Association said, “We are focused on empowering the space industry to enhance defence operational readiness, bringing together some of the finest leaders from the armed forces and the broader ecosystem. The presence of our astronauts honors the storied and evolving bond between uniformed service and the frontier of space. We look forward to a highly engaging and forward-looking discussion on shaping India’s defence space capabilities.”

Gp Capt Shubhanshu Shukla said “India stands at a point where expectations from our space programme are rising, and we must evolve with that shift by investing in capability, innovation and collaboration. If we align our resources and vision effectively, there is a real opportunity for India not just to participate, but to lead with unique, future-ready frameworks that others look to adopt.” Both Shukla and Nair underwent training for the Axiom 4 mission to the International Space Station (ISS), but only Shukla participated in the short commercial flight last year. The lessons learned from the Axiom 4 mission are expected to iron out the kinks and provide inputs for ISRO’s own ambitious human spaceflight programme, Gaganyaan.

Indigenous capabilities critical for national security

Gp Capt Prasanth B Nair, ISRO said “India’s journey into human spaceflight represents far more than a technological milestone, it positions us at the high table where future rules of space will be shaped. As we move forward, civil-military fusion and indigenous capability will be critical not only for national security, but also for ensuring India plays a defining role for the global south in the evolving space ecosystem.”