Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is an Indian Air Force officer and pilot who has been selected for India’s first human space flight mission in collaboration with NASA. Born in Lucknow in 1985, he is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy and holds an M.Tech in Aerospace Engineering from IISc
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Bangalore. With over 2,000 flight hours on various fighter aircraft, he was selected for the Axiom Mission 4 (X-4) to the International Space Station (ISS). Once launched, he will become the first Indian astronaut to live on the ISS and the second Indian to go to space after Rakesh Sharma.
Why the Mission Matters
Will be the first Indian to reside aboard the ISS and the second Indian in space, after Rakesh Sharma’s 1984 mission
The mission will take about 14 days on the ISS, carrying out about 60 scientific experiments, many of which will be led by Indian institutions (e.g., tardigrade biology, muscle regeneration, crop growth studies)
Costs India around USD 60–70 million for the seat and training
It is a milestone in India-US space cooperation and paves the way for ISRO’s ambitious Gaganyaan (2027) and Moon mission by 2040
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Current Status of the Mission
Originally slated to launch on June 10, rescheduled to June 11 at 5:30 pm IST, but again postponed due to a liquid oxygen leak found during Falcon 9 booster tests
A new launch date is pending after repairs are completed
Personal Touch & Cultural Pride
Nicknamed “Shuks”, he’s known to carry Indian delicacies (like gajar halwa and aamras) and cultural mementos aboard the ISS
His hometown community in Lucknow held havan and “Sundar Kand” prayers for his safe journey
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🔭 Final Thoughts
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla embodies India’s space identity – skilled pilots, advanced education, rigor and internationalism and a pioneering spirit. When he finally flies to Axiom-4 aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 Crew Dragon, he will carry the aspirations of 1.4 billion Indians and strengthen global space partnerships.
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