Cape Canaveral / New Delhi, July 2025 – In a historic achievement that reignites India’s human spaceflight journey after more than four decades, Group Captain Shubanshu Shukla of the Indian Air Force has become the second Indian to venture into space, following Rakesh Sharma’s landmark flight in 1984. As the pilot of Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4), Shukla not only marked his presence aboard the International Space Station (ISS) but also led key Indian scientific experiments — a proud moment for both ISRO and the nation.
From IAF Skies to Outer Space
Born on October 10, 1985, in Lucknow, Shubanshu Shukla’s journey from the skies of India to the vastness of space is the culmination of nearly two decades of discipline and excellence. Commissioned into the Indian Air Force fighter wing in June 2006, he has logged over 2,000 flying hours across frontline aircraft like the Su-30 MKI and the MiG-21.
In 2019, he was among the select few chosen by ISRO for its human spaceflight program. His intense training at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Russia included exposure to rocket systems, zero-gravity simulations, and orbital living — all to prepare him for a future space mission. That future arrived in 2025, not through Gaganyaan just yet, but through a unique collaboration with the private space firm, Axiom Space.
Axiom Mission 4: A Global Collaboration in Space
Axiom Mission 4, launched on June 25, 2025, from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, was a truly international endeavor involving astronauts from four countries and scientific collaborations from 31 nations. The mission, after several launch delays due to technical and weather-related challenges, finally lifted off aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon atop a Falcon 9 rocket.
The mission’s goal? To conduct around 60 experiments on health, technology, and biology in microgravity — crucial for understanding the effects of space on human physiology.
Joining Shubanshu Shukla on the crew were:
- Commander Peggy Whitson (USA) – former NASA astronaut, now with Axiom Space.
- Mission Specialist Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski (Poland) – representing the European Space Agency.
- Mission Specialist Tibor Kapu (Hungary) – sent by the Hungarian Space Office.
India’s Scientific Contributions in Space
As pilot and mission lead for Indian experiments, Shukla took charge of several advanced research tasks aboard the ISS. Chief among them was Myogenesis, a study on skeletal muscle degradation in microgravity, conducted inside the Life Sciences Glovebox (LSG). The experiment, supported by ISRO, aims to understand muscle atrophy — one of the key challenges of long-term space travel — and could pave the way for healthier missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.
India’s participation in Axiom Mission 4 was a strategic move by ISRO, allowing it to test its scientific protocols and astronaut training ahead of the ambitious Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission set for launch in 2026.
A New Chapter for India in Human Spaceflight
Shubanshu Shukla’s successful journey to space is more than just a personal achievement. It is a symbolic and strategic milestone for India. After a 41-year gap since Rakesh Sharma’s iconic mission aboard the Soviet Soyuz, India once again has a presence in crewed space exploration — this time, through a commercial spaceflight route, showcasing India’s readiness to collaborate and lead.
His mission also demonstrates the evolution of ISRO, from launching satellites and probes to actively participating in human spaceflight missions in the global arena. It reflects India’s growing confidence and ambition in becoming a central figure in the new space age.
What’s Next for India?
With Gaganyaan on the horizon, India’s space dreams are closer than ever. Shubanshu Shukla’s time aboard the ISS, interactions with global astronauts, and hands-on experience with microgravity research offer invaluable insights that will feed directly into India’s own crewed missions.
The mission also opens doors for deeper partnerships between ISRO and commercial players like Axiom Space and SpaceX, potentially speeding up India’s goals of sustained space presence.
Group Captain Shubanshu Shukla has written a new chapter in India’s space history — one that is rooted in courage, science, and the dream to reach beyond Earth. From flying combat jets to orbiting Earth aboard the ISS, his journey is an inspiration to millions, signaling that India’s stars are not just in the sky — they are on their way to space.
