Indian Air Force (IAF) Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is set to make history as the pilot for Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4), NASA announced on Thursday. He will become the first Indian astronaut to travel to the International Space Station (ISS) on a private mission, marking a major milestone for India’s space ambitions.
The Ax-4 mission, scheduled for spring 2025, will lift off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft. The two-week mission will focus on scientific research, outreach programs, and commercial projects in microgravity, as part of a collaboration between NASA and ISRO.
Who is Shubhanshu Shukla?
Born on October 10, 1985, in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, Shubhanshu Shukla has had a distinguished career in the Indian Air Force. A graduate of the National Defence Academy (NDA) in 2005, he was commissioned into the Fighter stream in June 2006. With over 2,000 flight hours on multiple aircraft—including the An-32, Jaguar, Hawk, MiG-21, MiG-29, and Su-30 MKI—Shukla has earned a reputation as an experienced test pilot and combat leader.
Path to Space
2019: Selected for the IAF’s astronaut program through the Institute of Aerospace Medicine (IAM).
2021: Trained at Russia’s Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center.
2024: Continued astronaut training in Bengaluru and was promoted to Group Captain in the IAF.
August 2024: Chosen as the pilot for Axiom Mission 4, making him the second Indian to travel to space after Rakesh Sharma’s historic flight in 1984.
Shubhanshu Shukla is the youngest of three siblings and the first in his family to serve in the armed forces. He is married to Dr. Kamna Shubha Shukla, a dentist, and continues to inspire the next generation of Indian astronauts with his remarkable journey to the stars.
As India strengthens its presence in space exploration, Shukla’s selection for Ax-4 signals a new era for the country’s ambitious space missions. His journey to the ISS will not only showcase India’s growing expertise in human spaceflight but also pave the way for future missions, including the much-anticipated Gaganyaan project.
