Publishing on 25 June 2026, The Second Orbit: : Belief of a Man… Dreams of 1.4 Billion Hearts is an intimate and inspiring account of the journey behind one of the defining moments in India’s modern space story.
In this deeply personal memoir, Shubhanshu Shukla takes readers behind the headlines and into the realities of human spaceflight, including the years of preparation, the setbacks, the discipline, the training, the uncertainty, and the unwavering belief required to pursue a dream that often seemed impossible. Through vivid storytelling and rare first-hand insights, he takes readers inside the astronaut selection process, the demanding years of training, life aboard the International Space Station, and the lessons learned from becoming the first Indian to visit and dock with the ISS.
“Even before launch, I carried a question into the capsule with me: what should this mission mean? A spaceflight unlocks the technologies of the future, but more importantly, it unlocks something quieter, and harder to measure: the sense, in the mind of a child watching, that a door has just opened. Forty-two years ago, Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma opened that door for an entire generation — mine included. This book is my attempt to hold it open for the next.”
“When I was a child, I never imagined I would be an astronaut. I sat in the same kind of classroom, with the same homework, and the same small wish, for five minutes in a cockpit. This book is for the child in that classroom right now — the one who hasn’t yet been told the dream is too big. It isn’t. It never was.” – Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, AC
But The Second Orbit is far more than a story about space; It is a story about self-belief. About learning to say “yes” before fear can take over. About finding purpose in adversity. And about carrying the hopes of 1.4 billion people beyond Earth’s atmosphere.
About the Author
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla stands at the frontline of India’s leap into human spaceflight, a decorated Indian Air Force (IAF) fighter pilot chosen among the four astronauts for ISRO’s landmark Gaganyaan Mission, the country’s first crewed journey beyond Earth. Born on October 10, 1985, in Lucknow, Shubhanshu’s trajectory has been defined by precision, discipline, and quiet ambition. Commissioned into the IAF fighter stream in June 2006, he evolved into a fighter combat leader and accomplished test pilot, logging over 2,000 flying hours across a formidable fleet – Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, MiG-29, Jaguar, Hawk, Dornier, and An-32. His elevation to Group Captain in March 2024 reflects a career built on consistency under pressure and operational excellence. In 2019, a pivotal call from ISRO set him on a new orbit. He underwent intensive astronaut training at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Moscow, preparing for the demands of space with the same rigor he brought to the skies. On February 27, 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi formally introduced him as one of the faces of Gaganyaan. Shubhanshu further served as mission pilot on Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) to the International Space Station, contributing to a defining chapter in India’s expanding presence in global space exploration. He was decorated with the Ashoka Chakra, the highest peacetime Indian military decoration in 2026.
Endorsements
“The book is a master class delivered by one who has been there and done that.”
Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma, Ashoka Chakra
First Indian in Space
“A wonderful memoir that will inspire everyone to dream and reach for their stars.”
Sachin Tendulkar
Bharat Ratna
“Shubhanshu shares his personal journey off planet, and it will bring tears to your eyes. “
Peggy Whitson
Commander on Axiom Mission 2 (Ax-2) and Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4)
Book Details
Title: The Second Orbit: Belief of a Man… Dreams of 1.4 Billion Hearts
Author: Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, AC
Publisher: Penguin Random House India
Publication Date: 25 June 2026
Format: Paperback & Hardback
Extent: 342 pages
Price: PB: ₹599/HB: ₹799
