🧑🚀 Biography of Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla
- Full Name: Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla
- Date of Birth: October 10, 1985
- Place of Birth: Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
- Profession: Indian Air Force Test Pilot, Astronaut
- Known For: First Indian astronaut to travel to the International Space Station (ISS)
✈️ Early Life and Career
Born in the heart of Uttar Pradesh, Shubhanshu Shukla was always drawn to the skies. After completing his early education in Lucknow, he pursued a career in the armed forces, joining the Indian Air Force (IAF) in 2006. Driven by a passion for aviation and exploration, Shukla excelled in his training and quickly rose through the ranks.🛩️ Test Pilot Excellence
As a fighter pilot and later a test pilot, he logged over 2,000 hours of flying across some of India’s most advanced and complex fighter aircraft, including:- Su-30 MKI
- MiG-21
- Jaguar
His precision, discipline, and technical mastery earned him a place among India’s elite test pilots—a stepping stone that would soon lead him to outer space.
🚀 Astronaut Training for Gaganyaan
In 2019, Shukla was selected for ISRO's Gaganyaan mission, India’s maiden human spaceflight program. Along with three other Indian Air Force pilots, he underwent intense astronaut training at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Russia, where he studied space medicine, survival techniques, spacecraft systems, and zero-gravity operations.🛰️ Axiom Mission 4 and ISS Milestone
In a historic move, Shubhanshu Shukla was selected in 2024 to pilot Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4), a private mission to the International Space Station organized by Axiom Space and launched aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft.Though the mission was initially delayed due to technical issues, it successfully launched on June 25, 2025. Shukla served as the mission pilot, alongside legendary astronaut Peggy Whitson (Commander) and two other specialists.
- This flight marked:
- The first time an Indian astronaut visited the ISS
A new chapter in India’s collaboration with international space agencies
🌍 Legacy and Significance
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla has become a symbol of India's aerospace excellence. From mastering the cockpit of supersonic jets to navigating the vacuum of space, his journey inspires a new generation of Indians to dream beyond Earth.Shubhanshu Shukla Becomes First Indian to Reach the ISS – From Fighter Pilot to Astronaut
New Delhi – Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, a decorated test pilot of the Indian Air Force, has etched his name in history as the first Indian astronaut to travel to the International Space Station (ISS). The 39-year-old pilot from Lucknow was part of the Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4), which successfully launched on June 25, 2025, aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.Shukla, who joined the Indian Air Force in 2006, has flown over 2,000 hours across multiple aircraft types, including the Su-30 MKI and MiG-21. His reputation as a skilled test pilot led to his selection in 2019 for the Gaganyaan mission, India’s first planned crewed spaceflight.
He trained extensively at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Russia, preparing for both Gaganyaan and future space missions. In a surprise development, Axiom Space announced Shukla as the pilot for Ax-4 in 2024—an international mission to the ISS led by veteran astronaut Peggy Whitson.
Originally scheduled for June 10, the launch was briefly postponed due to technical issues but eventually lifted off flawlessly on June 25, with Shukla on board the Dragon spacecraft.
With this feat, Shukla becomes the first Indian to enter the ISS, paving the way for deeper Indian involvement in international space missions and raising anticipation for the upcoming Gaganyaan mission in 2025.
“This is a proud moment for India and a giant leap toward our ambitions in human spaceflight,” said an ISRO official following the successful launch.
As India eyes a new era of space exploration, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla stands as a beacon of what’s possible when discipline, skill, and vision align—both in the sky and beyond it.