Who is Shubhanshu Shukla, Group Captain Ax-4 : From Fighter Pilot to India's Next Star-Gazer
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla: From Fighter Pilot to India's Next Star-Gazer.
Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh – June 25, 2025 – Today, as Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla prepares to pilot the Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) to the International Space Station (ISS), he embarks on a journey that culminates years of rigorous training, unwavering dedication, and a lifelong dream. Shukla, an accomplished Indian Air Force (IAF) fighter pilot, is not just a participant in this global space endeavor; he represents India's renewed ambition in human spaceflight, poised to become only the second Indian to venture beyond Earth's atmosphere.
Born on October 10, 1985, in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, Shubhanshu Shukla's trajectory towards the cosmos began with a profound inspiration. The 1999 Kargil War, when he was just 14, ignited a fierce desire to serve his nation, steering him towards a career in the armed forces. A studious and introspective child, he pursued his early education at City Montessori School in Lucknow, where a strong academic foundation was laid.
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Without informing his family, a young Shubhanshu independently applied for and successfully cleared the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) National Defence Academy (NDA) examination. This bold step marked the true beginning of his remarkable military career. He completed his military training and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from the National Defence Academy in 2005.
In June 2006, Shubhanshu Shukla was commissioned into the fighter stream of the Indian Air Force. His career in the IAF has been nothing short of distinguished. A combat leader and highly experienced test pilot, he has amassed over 2,000 hours of flight experience across a diverse array of aircraft, including the formidable Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, MiG-29, Jaguar, Hawk, Dornier, and An-32. His ascent through the ranks culminated in his promotion to Group Captain in March 2024, a testament to his exceptional contributions and profound expertise in aviation. His peers and colleagues often describe him as "wicked smart" and "operational-savvy," highlighting his sharp intellect and practical approach.
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The call to space came in 2019, when Shukla was selected by the Institute of Aerospace Medicine (IAM) for India's ambitious Human Spaceflight Programme, Gaganyaan. This marked a pivotal turn in his life, transitioning him from the blue skies to the vast expanse of space. He embarked on a year-long, rigorous basic spaceflight training at the prestigious Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Moscow, Russia, completing it in 2021. He then returned to India for further mission-specific preparation at ISRO's Astronaut Training Facility in Bengaluru. During this period, he also pursued a Master of Technology degree in Aerospace Engineering from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, further solidifying his scientific and engineering acumen.
On February 27, 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi publicly unveiled Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla as one of the four astronaut designates for India's maiden indigenous human spaceflight mission, Gaganyaan, currently targeted for launch in 2027.
Now, as the pilot of Axiom Mission 4, Shubhanshu Shukla is not only fulfilling a personal dream but also playing a crucial role in preparing India for its future in human space exploration. He will conduct various scientific experiments, including India-specific studies on space nutrition and life support systems, which are vital for long-duration missions. He also plans to take items representing India from different parts of the country and hopes to serve Indian food to his fellow astronauts on the orbital laboratory.
Shubhanshu Shukla is married to Dr. Kamna Shukla, a dentist, and they have a four-year-old son. He comes from a humble family background; his father, Shambhu Dayal Shukla, is a retired government officer, and his mother, Asha Shukla, is a homemaker. He is the youngest of three siblings. In his leisure time, he enjoys physical exercise and reading about science and space.
Also Read:As he prepares to make his historic launch, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla embodies the spirit of dedication, discipline, and scientific ambition. His journey from the battle-hardened cockpits of fighter jets to the cutting edge of space exploration is an inspiration to an entire nation, demonstrating that with relentless pursuit, the stars are indeed within reach.
Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh – June 25, 2025 – Today, as Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla prepares to pilot the Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) to the International Space Station (ISS), he embarks on a journey that culminates years of rigorous training, unwavering dedication, and a lifelong dream. Shukla, an accomplished Indian Air Force (IAF) fighter pilot, is not just a participant in this global space endeavor; he represents India's renewed ambition in human spaceflight, poised to become only the second Indian to venture beyond Earth's atmosphere.
Also Read:
In June 2006, Shubhanshu Shukla was commissioned into the fighter stream of the Indian Air Force. His career in the IAF has been nothing short of distinguished. A combat leader and highly experienced test pilot, he has amassed over 2,000 hours of flight experience across a diverse array of aircraft, including the formidable Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, MiG-29, Jaguar, Hawk, Dornier, and An-32. His ascent through the ranks culminated in his promotion to Group Captain in March 2024, a testament to his exceptional contributions and profound expertise in aviation. His peers and colleagues often describe him as "wicked smart" and "operational-savvy," highlighting his sharp intellect and practical approach.
Also Read:
The call to space came in 2019, when Shukla was selected by the Institute of Aerospace Medicine (IAM) for India's ambitious Human Spaceflight Programme, Gaganyaan. This marked a pivotal turn in his life, transitioning him from the blue skies to the vast expanse of space. He embarked on a year-long, rigorous basic spaceflight training at the prestigious Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Moscow, Russia, completing it in 2021. He then returned to India for further mission-specific preparation at ISRO's Astronaut Training Facility in Bengaluru. During this period, he also pursued a Master of Technology degree in Aerospace Engineering from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, further solidifying his scientific and engineering acumen.
On February 27, 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi publicly unveiled Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla as one of the four astronaut designates for India's maiden indigenous human spaceflight mission, Gaganyaan, currently targeted for launch in 2027.
Now, as the pilot of Axiom Mission 4, Shubhanshu Shukla is not only fulfilling a personal dream but also playing a crucial role in preparing India for its future in human space exploration. He will conduct various scientific experiments, including India-specific studies on space nutrition and life support systems, which are vital for long-duration missions. He also plans to take items representing India from different parts of the country and hopes to serve Indian food to his fellow astronauts on the orbital laboratory.
Shubhanshu Shukla is married to Dr. Kamna Shukla, a dentist, and they have a four-year-old son. He comes from a humble family background; his father, Shambhu Dayal Shukla, is a retired government officer, and his mother, Asha Shukla, is a homemaker. He is the youngest of three siblings. In his leisure time, he enjoys physical exercise and reading about science and space.
Also Read:As he prepares to make his historic launch, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla embodies the spirit of dedication, discipline, and scientific ambition. His journey from the battle-hardened cockpits of fighter jets to the cutting edge of space exploration is an inspiration to an entire nation, demonstrating that with relentless pursuit, the stars are indeed within reach.
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