Meet Shubhanshu Shukla: India's First Astronaut to Visit ISS – Key Details

Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is set to become the first Indian astronaut to visit the International Space Station (ISS). He has been chosen to pilot Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4), a private astronaut mission that will take off on a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft no earlier than April 2025.

Indian Air Force (IAF) pilot Shukla will be part of a team headed by mission commander Peggy Whitson, a former NASA astronaut. Two mission specialists, Tibor Kapu from Hungary and Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski from Poland, will accompany him. In addition to being the first ISRO astronaut to reach the ISS, this mission will be the first time Polish and Hungarian astronauts have stayed aboard the space station.

Shubhanshu Shukla's Excitement for the Mission

Shukla expressed his enthusiasm for the mission and his desire to share his experience with the Indian people. In addition to bringing cultural artifacts from across the nation, he even hopes to do yoga poses on board the ISS. " Even as an individual traveling to space, this is the journey of 1.4 billion people," he stated. Over the course of the 14-day mission, the crew will carry out outreach initiatives, scientific research, and microgravity business ventures.

Expanding Space Exploration for the Future

The Ax-4 mission is a component of a larger initiative to increase access to low Earth orbit for private astronauts. "Private missions like Ax-4 help pave the way for a sustainable low Earth orbit economy, enabling future deep space exploration," said Dana Weigel, manager of NASA's ISS program. Whitson also lauded the Ax-4 crew's commitment to space exploration, describing it as "truly remarkable."

ALSO READ: New Federal Reserve Rates and Their Market Impact – Check Details Here

ALSO READ: Mahakumbh 2025: No More VVIP Permits; New Rules Announced

Shubhanshu Shukla's Background and Training

Born in Lucknow on October 10, 1985, Shubhanshu Shukla joined the Indian Air Force (IAF) as a fighter pilot in June 2006. He was promoted to Group Captain in March 2024. With over 2,000 flight hours, he has flown a variety of aircraft, including the Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, MiG-29, Jaguar, Hawk, Dornier, and An-32.

India's First Astronaut to the ISS

In 2019, Shukla underwent astronaut training at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre in Russia. ISRO later chose him for the Gaganyaan mission, India's first human spaceflight program. Now, as part of a NASA-Axiom collaboration, he is set to become the first ISRO astronaut to visit the ISS. During his time in space, he plans to document his experience through photos and videos.