Shubhanshu Shukla

Shubhanshu Shukla was born on 10 October 1985 in Lucknow. He is the youngest of the three children of government official Shambhu Dayal Shukla and Asha.^[4] He completed his schooling at City Montessori School in Lucknow. Motivated by the Kargil War in 1999, he appeared for and cleared the National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination.^[5] He obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in computer science from the Jawaharlal Nehru University.^[6]

Shukla is married to dentist Kamna Mishra, who was his classmate at school, and the couple have a son.^[7]

After passing out of the National Defence Academy in 2005, he subsequently enrolled at the Indian Air Force Academy. He was commissioned into the fighter stream of the Indian Air Force (IAF) as a flying officer in June 2006.^[8][9] He was promoted to wing commander in June 2019.^[10] He is a qualified test pilot with over 2,000 hours of flying experience on a wide variety of aircraft, including the BAE Hawk, Dornier 228, Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21, Mikoyan MiG-29, SEPECAT Jaguar, and Sukhoi Su-30MKI.^[8][11] He was promoted to the rank of group captain with the IAF in 2024.^[10]

In 2019, Shukla was shortlisted by the Institute of Aerospace Medicine for the Gaganyaan programme of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). He was among four candidates selected for training as a part of the Indian Human Spaceflight Programme.^[12][13]

Shukla trained at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Russia from 2020 to 2021.^[14] He later underwent mission-specific training at ISRO's Astronaut Training Facility in Bengaluru and completed a Master of Engineering degree in aerospace engineering from the Indian Institute of Science.^[12] On 27 February 2024, ISRO officially introduced Shukla as a member of the astronaut team for Gaganyaan-4, India's planned first human spaceflight mission.^[12][15]

Axiom Mission 4

On 2 August 2024, ISRO announced that Shukla would be part of the Axiom Mission 4 to the International Space Station (ISS). He and fellow astronaut Prasanth Nair trained at the NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, for the mission.^[16][17] The mission was a collaboration between ISRO, NASA, and SpaceX.^[18] Shukla was designated as the mission pilot.^[19][20] The mission was led by veteran Peggy Whitson, alongside mission specialists Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski and Tibor Kapu.^[21]

The mission successfully lifted off from Launch Complex 39A at the NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on 25 June 2025 at 06:31 UTC.^[22] It docked with the ISS on 26 June 2025 at 10:31 UTC, and Shukla became the first Indian astronaut to visit the ISS, and the second Indian to travel to outer space, after Rakesh Sharma in 1984.^[23][24] The crew entered the ISS at 12:14 UTC, and at 14:00 UTC, a formal welcome ceremony for the visiting crew took place, during which Whitson gave Shukla an astronaut pin, designating him as the 634th person to reach space.^[25][26]

"Namaskar, my dear countrymen! What a ride! We are back in the space once again after 41 years. It's an amazing ride. We are revolving around the Earth at a speed of 7.5 kilometres per second. The Tiranga embossed on my shoulders tells me that I am with all of you. This journey of mine is not a beginning to the International Space Station but to India's Human Space Programme. I want all of you to be part of this journey. Your chest, too, should swell with pride... Together, let's initiate India's Human Space Programme. Jai Hind! Jai Bharat!"

— Shukla's first message from outer space addressing the nation^[27]

Indian president Droupadi Murmu, prime minister Narendra Modi and the IAF congratulated Shukla.^[28] While onboard the ISS, Shukla participated in public outreach, including a live videoconference with the prime minister on 28 June^[29] and ham radio conversations with school students on 4 July,^[30] and 8 July.^[31][32] On 6 July, he participated in a conversation with V. Narayanan, the chairman of ISRO and other officials on the experiments and activities with regards to the India's Indian Human Spaceflight Programme.^[33]

Shukla's mission was a commercially arranged effort where he spent two weeks on the ISS, conducting around 60 experiments, with at least seven designated by the ISRO.^[34] Estimates suggest that the Indian government spent approximately ₹5.48 billion (US$58 million) for Shukla's seat on the mission.^[35][36] ISRO officials have defended the cost, citing the benefits of gaining valuable experience in space during the mission and exposure to critical processes and infrastructure.^[37][38]

Shukla was decorated with the Ashoka Chakra, the highest peacetime Indian military decoration, in the 2026 Republic Day honours and decorations list.^[39][40] He was decorated with effect from 25 June 2025; the citation reads as follows:

PRESIDENT’S SECRETARIAT

New Delhi, the 26th January 2026
Gazette Notification: No. 15-Pres/2026
(Effective date of award: 25 June 2025)

29014, GROUP CAPTAIN SHUBHANSHU SHUKLA, FLYING (PILOT)

29014, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla was commissioned as a fighter pilot in the Flying branch of the IAF on 17 Jun 2006 and is on the posted strength of Air HQ (VB) and on deputation to ISRO with effect from 01 Feb 2020.

He is a Fighter Combat Leader, an Experimental Test Pilot and was chosen as one of the four Gaganyatris for Gaganyaan programme. On 25 June 2025, as part of the Axiom-4 mission, Group Captain Shukla boldly embarked on a 20-day journey to the International Space Station (ISS), marking a historic milestone for India's human spaceflight programme. He became first ever Indian aboard ISS and the second Indian to travel to space after a gap of more than four decades.

During the mission, he undertook a series of complex experiments on board ISS, dealing with microgravity, human physiology, and advanced materials. In spite of the immense challenges and risks associated with space travel, he displayed unflinching courage, remaining focused and composed throughout the mission. He displayed exceptional courage, resilience and mental fortitude in the hostile environment of space, coping up with profound physical stress, radiation exposure, and health risks including muscle loss, altered physiology and psychological stress. During his space odyssey, he exemplified the highest standards of professionalism, teamwork, and patriotism. His selfless commitment to the nation's interests, unwavering dedication in pursuit of scientific excellence, and his unshakeable resolve in the face of challenges, have set a shining example for generations to come.

For his most conspicuous bravery, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is awarded ‘Ashoka Chakra’.