TL; DR
- Born on October 10, 1985, in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is a distinguished pilot in the Indian Armed Forces (IAF).
- In 2019, Shukla was selected for India’s Gaganyaan Mission by the Institute of Aerospace Medicine (IAM) and the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) for the Indian Human Spaceflight Programme.
- Currently, Shukla is aboard the Axiom Mission 4 as a mission pilot, a private mission to the International Space Station (ISS). This makes him the second Indian to travel to space after Rakesh Sharma.
The ongoing Axiom Mission is shaping a new era of space exploration. Amidst the ambitious objectives of the commercial mission, one name has begun to resonate and trend widely: Shubhanshu Shukla. His pivotal involvement in Axiom 4 holds immense significance for the Indian space industry, which could greatly benefit from Shukla’s experience in human spaceflight operations.
Who is Shubhanshu Shukla?
Born on October 10, 1985, in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is a distinguished pilot in the Indian Armed Forces (IAF).
He graduated from the National Defence Academy (NDA) in Pune with a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) degree in 2005. Following this, he joined the Indian Air Force Academy. In 2006, Shukla joined the fighter stream of the Indian Air Force (IAF).
In 2019, the Institute of Aerospace Medicine (IAM) and the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) selected Shukla for India’s Gaganyaan Mission as part of the Indian Human Spaceflight Programme. During the same year, he became the Wing Commander in the Indian Air Force (IAF).
After his selection, Shukla went to the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Russia (from 2020 to 2021) to undertake basic astronaut training. He returned to India and continued the training at the Astronaut Training Facility in Bengaluru, India (from 2021).
By 2024, he had earned an M.Tech in Aerospace Engineering from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) while simultaneously undergoing astronaut training.
This was also the year when the Prime Minister announced him as one of the four members selected for India’s first human space mission, Gaganyaan. Shukla rose to the position of Group Captain in the Indian Air Force (IAF) in March 2024.
What does Shubhanshu Shukla Do?
Over the years, Shukla trained rigorously and became a combat leader with over 2,000 hours of flight experience. He has flown various aircraft, including the Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, Jaguar, and Hawk, among others.
As mentioned earlier, he has also undergone astronaut training for the Gaganyaan mission scheduled for 2026 to 2027.
Why is Shubhanshu Shukla Trending?
- Currently, Shukla is aboard the Axiom Mission 4 as a mission pilot. This makes him the second Indian to travel to space after Rakesh Sharma.
- Shukla is set to be the first Indian astronaut to visit the International Space Station (ISS) as part of a private space mission (different from government-led missions like Gaganyaan).
- Shukla is serving as the first Indian pilot of SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft.
- Shukla’s involvement and experience in a private space mission planned by Axiom Space, in collaboration with Elon Musk’s SpaceX and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), will help with ISRO’s Gaganyaan mission.
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Shubhanshu Shukla’s Role In The Axiom Mission 4
The Axiom Mission 4 is a private crewed spaceflight to the International Space Station (ISS) in the SpaceX Crew Dragon C213 aboard the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.
The mission successfully lifted off at the scheduled time of 12:01 PM IST on June 25, 2025, from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, Florida. It is targeting a docking time of 4:30 PM IST on June 26, 2025. The planned duration of the mission is 14 days.
Among the Axiom Mission 4’s crew members are the following.
- Commander Peggy Whitson (NASA’s most experienced astronaut)
- Pilot Shubhanshu Shukla (IAF’s test pilot and ISRO astronaut-designate)
- Mission specialist Slawosz Uznański-Wiśniewski (European Space Agency’s project astronaut)
- Mission specialist Tibor Kapu (mechanical engineer representing the Hungarian Space Office’s HUNOR).
The objectives of the Axiom Mission 4 include conducting scientific experiments, technological demonstrations, educational outreach, and commercial activities in Low Earth Orbit (LEO). The mission will also foster international collaboration in space exploration.
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