Indian Air Force (IAF) Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is all set to make history as the first Indian astronaut to travel to the International Space Station (ISS). He will be the pilot for Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4), which is scheduled for launch later this year. Adding a unique cultural touch to the mission, Shukla plans to practice yoga in space and even introduce his fellow astronauts to traditional Indian cuisine.

India’s New Space Pioneer

With this mission, Shubhanshu Shukla will become only the second Indian astronaut to fly into space, following in the footsteps of Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma, who made history in 1984. His selection for the Indo-US space mission was recently announced by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

NASA Space Operations confirmed the mission on social media 'X', stating: - National Aeronautics and Space Administration with its international partners have approved the crew for Axiom Space’s fourth private astronaut mission to the International Space Station, launching from its  Kennedy Space Center in Florida no earlier than spring 2025...

The post also highlighted the key crew members: former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson will command the mission, while Shubhanshu Shukla will serve as the pilot.

Who Is Shubhanshu Shukla?

Born on October 10, 1985, in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, Shubhanshu Shukla has always been passionate about aviation. He joined the Indian Air Force in June 2006 as a fighter pilot and was promoted to Group Captain in March 2024. Over the years, he has gained vast experience flying various fighter jets, including the Su-30 MKI, MiG21, MiG29, Jaguar, Hawk, Dornier, and An-32. His expertise and dedication have made him becoming one of the top officers in the Indian Air Force.

Shukla was also among the four pilots selected for India’s ambitious Gaganyaan mission, which aims to make India the fourth country to send humans into space independently. His selection for the ISS mission also highlights his outstanding skills in both aviation and space exploration.

For this mission, Shukla has been named as the primary astronaut, while Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair has been named as his backup.

About Ax-4 Mission

Axiom Space’s fourth private crewed mission, Axiom Mission-4, to the International Space Station will further expand private astronaut and commercial spaceflight operations in low Earth orbit. It will be carried by a SpaceX Falcon-9 rocket and utilize the Crew Dragon spacecraft to transport astronauts to the ISS.