The world is holding its breath. At the edge of history, with the clock ticking down and engines rumbling beneath him, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is just moments away from becoming India’s next man in space—and the first to journey to the International Space Station.
Indian Air Force (IAF) Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, one of the astronauts assigned under the Gaganyaan program, is scheduled to travel to space. Shukla’s voyage is a pivotal point in India’s space aspirations as he joins the Axiom-4 mission to the International Space Station (ISS).
What Is The Axiom-4 Mission
#WATCH | Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh: Mother of IAF Group Captain & astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, Asha Shukla, gets emotional as she cheers for her son, who is part of the #AxiomMission4 pic.twitter.com/62Ki2J3hRU
— ANI (@ANI) June 25, 2025
Axiom Space, in collaboration with SpaceX and NASA, is planning to launch a private trip to the ISS called Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4). Facilitating commercial space operations, such as space tourism and scientific research, is the mission’s main goal.
The launch is scheduled to take place from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on June 25, 2025. India, Poland, and Hungary are returning to human spaceflight with this mission, which is notable because it is their first government-sponsored journey in more than 40 years.
The goal of the NASA, SpaceX, and ISRO partnership is to improve international spaceflight cooperation. After Rakesh Sharma’s 1984 mission, Shukla will be the second Indian to reach orbit and the first Indian astronaut to visit the International Space Station. His seat is expected to cost around ₹500 crore, or the “mid-$60-million range.”
Who Is Shubhanshu Shukla?
Born in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, Shukla finished his education at City Montessori School in Aliganj. Motivated by the Kargil War of 1999, he applied for and passed the UPSC NDA exam on his own. After completing his military training, he graduated from the National Defence Academy in 2005 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science.
He then trained at the Indian Air Force Academy after being chosen for the flying branch. He received his commission as a Flying Officer in the Indian Air Force’s Fighter stream in June 2006.
Shubhanshu Shukla is a combat leader and seasoned test pilot with about 2,000 hours of flying experience in various aircraft, including the Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, Jaguar, Hawk, Dornier-228, and AN-32.
The Institute of Aerospace Medicine (IAM), a division of the Indian Air Force, selected Shubhanshu Shukla as an astronaut for the Indian Human Spaceflight Program in 2019. Later, IAM and ISRO shortlisted him for the final four. He and three other chosen astronauts travelled to the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Russia in 2020 for basic training.
In 2021, basic training was completed. After that, he went back to India and trained at Bangalore’s Astronaut Training Facility. He earned his Master of Technology in Aerospace Engineering from IISc Bangalore during this time.
His name as a member of the astronaut team was first officially announced by PM Narendra Modi on 27 February 2024, when the Prime Minister announced the names of the astronaut team members for India’s first human space mission at ISRO’s Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre in Thiruvananthapuram.
Why Gaganyaan Matters More Than Ever
The Gaganyaan mission isn’t just India’s first attempt at sending humans into space—it’s a bold declaration that the country is ready to join the elite club of spacefaring nations. Spearheaded by ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation), Gaganyaan aims to launch Indian astronauts—Gagannauts—into low Earth orbit aboard an indigenously developed spacecraft.
More than a technological feat, it’s a moment of national pride, showcasing India’s rapid ascent in space science. With rigorous astronaut training, cutting-edge engineering, and international collaborations, Gaganyaan is set to mark a new era where Indian citizens no longer just study the stars but live among them. And as heroes like Shubhanshu Shukla take on key roles in preparation, the countdown to India’s tryst with the cosmos has truly begun.
Trained by both ISRO and international agencies, Shubhanshu Shukla represents the best of what India has to offer: discipline, intellect, and an unshakable drive to reach higher. As he now prepares for space aboard a global mission, his presence is more than personal—it’s a giant step toward India’s own human spaceflight program, Gaganyaan.
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