Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla of the Indian Air Force (IAF) is set to make history as the first Indian astronaut to travel to the International Space Station (ISS). He will embark on the mission aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft from Florida as part of Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4), a collaborative effort between NASA and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
The US space agency announced on Thursday that the launch is scheduled for “no earlier than spring 2025.” Shukla, designated as the pilot for Ax-4, expressed his excitement about the mission, stating that he looks forward to sharing his experiences with the people of India. He also revealed plans to carry items symbolizing the nation and intends to perform yoga aboard the orbital laboratory.
Who is Shubhanshu Shukla?
Born on October 10, 1985, in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, Shubhanshu Shukla is a distinguished pilot with an extensive career in the IAF. He was commissioned into the IAF fighter wing in June 2006 and was promoted to the rank of Group Captain in March 2024.
According to the Axiom Mission 4 website, Shukla is an experienced combat leader and test pilot with over 2,000 hours of flight experience across multiple aircraft, including the Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, MiG-29, Jaguar, Hawk, Dornier, and An-32.
Apart from his upcoming Ax-4 mission, Shukla has also been designated as an astronaut for India’s indigenous human spaceflight program, Gaganyaan. His participation in Ax-4 marks a significant milestone in India’s growing presence in global space exploration.