Shubhanshu Shukla, an Indian Air Force officer and ISRO astronaut, has been selected as the pilot for Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4), a private astronaut mission to the International Space Station. With this, he will become the first Indian astronaut to travel to the ISS.
Here is everything you need to know about Shubhanshu Shukla, and the Axiom Mission 4.
Who Is Shubhanshu Shukla
Shubhanshu Shukla is set to create history as the first Indian astronaut aboard the ISS and the second Indian to fly to space since 1984. He is also one of the four astronauts selected for ISRO's Gaganyaan mission, India's first human spaceflight initiative.
Shukla began his professional journey in 2006 when he was commissioned into the Indian Air Force (IAF) as part of the fighter wing.
Born in 1975 in Lucknow, Shukla has 2,000 hours of flight experience across various aircraft. He has flown top IAF aircraft like the Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, MiG-29, Jaguar, Hawk, Dornier and An-32, showcasing his expertise over the years. He became group captain in 2024.
ISRO called Shukla in to serve as one of the astronauts on the Gaganyaan mission in 2019. Thereafter, he went to Russia to train for a year. In February 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi introduced him as one of the Gaganyaan astronauts.
Before Gaganyaan happens, Shukla is set to be part of the Axiom Mission 4 to go aboard the ISS.
What Is Axiom Mission 4?
Axiom Mission 4 is a private mission that will launch from Florida aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft. It is part of a larger initiative to increase private astronaut access to low Earth orbit.
The Ax-4 mission is scheduled to launch in Spring 2025. Once the astronauts dock at the International Space Station, they will spend up to 14 days aboard the orbiting laboratory. During those 14 days, the astronauts will embark on a mission comprising science, outreach, and commercial activities.
The mission also includes astronauts from Poland and Hungary.
While Shukla will represent India, Poland's Sławosz Uznański will join the mission on behalf of the European Space Agency. Tibor Kapu will represent Hungary. NASA's Peggy Whitson has been assigned mission commander.
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