Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is poised to make history as he joins a team of three other astronauts on Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4), within a launch scheduled for May 29 from Florida to the International Space Station (ISS). This mission signifies India’s return to crewed space endeavors after more than four decades, marking Shukla as the second Indian to journey into space since Rakesh Sharma’s groundbreaking flight in 1984.
Hailing from Lucknow, Shukla comes with a distinguished pedigree as a fighter pilot and is an alumnus of City Montessori School in Aliganj. Over the past eight months, he has undergone rigorous training with NASA and Axiom Space, preparing for this pivotal venture. At 39 years old, this Indian Air Force officer has amassed over 2,000 flight hours across various aircraft, including the Su-30 MKI and MiG series.
Alongside Shukla on the mission are veteran American astronaut Peggy Whitson, Polish astronaut SÅ‚awosz UznaÅ„ski-WiÅ›niewski, and Tibor Kapu, a Hungarian mechanical engineer. Together, this multinational crew will engage in research and outreach activities aboard the ISS, as part of Axiom Space’s latest private astronaut mission.
Shukla was born on October 10, 1985, and began his aviation career with the Indian Air Force (IAF) in 2006. He has since served as a combat leader and test pilot. His journey toward participating in a space program took a significant leap in 2019 when he commenced a year-long training regimen at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia.
On February 27, 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi officially announced Shukla’s inclusion in India’s elite astronaut corps for the upcoming Gaganyaan mission, which is slated for launch in 2025. The Gaganyaan project aims to be India’s first indigenous human spaceflight program, and Shukla is anticipated to be a key figure in its realization.
As India sets its sights on an ambitious future in space exploration, Shukla’s imminent ISS mission is regarded as a significant step toward enhancing international collaboration and showcasing India’s capabilities in science and technology.
