On June 10, 2025, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is set to make history as the first Indian astronaut to visit the International Space Station (ISS). He will pilot the Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4), a special space mission with NASA, Axiom Space, and SpaceX. This mission is a big step for India’s space dreams. Shubhanshu is also part of India’s Gaganyaan mission, the country’s first human spaceflight program. His journey from a small city in India to the stars is inspiring. Let’s explore his life, education, career, and achievements in simple words.
Early Life And Family
Shubhanshu Shukla was born on October 10, 1985, in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India. Lucknow is a city known for its culture and history. Shubhanshu grew up in a simple family. His father, Shambhu Dayal Shukla, was a government officer who is now retired. His mother, Asha Shukla, is a homemaker. Shubhanshu is the youngest of three siblings. He has two elder sisters, Nidhi and Suchi. Nidhi has an MBA degree, and Suchi is a school teacher. Shubhanshu is the first person in his family to join the armed forces. He is married to Dr. Kamna Shukla, a dentist. They have a four-year-old son. In his free time, Shubhanshu likes to exercise and read books about science and space. He also enjoys learning about horoscopes, even though he says he is agnostic.
As a child, Shubhanshu was bright and curious. He loved technology and aviation from a young age. The 1999 Kargil War, when he was a teenager, inspired him to serve his country. He saw Indian soldiers fighting bravely. This motivated him to join the Indian Air Force (IAF). He worked hard to achieve his dreams.
Education
Shubhanshu studied at City Montessori School in Lucknow. He was a good student and showed interest in science and technology. After finishing school, he wanted to join the Indian Air Force. To do this, he took the UPSC National Defence Academy (NDA) exam in 1999. The NDA exam is very tough, but Shubhanshu passed it on his own. He joined the National Defence Academy in Pune, a famous school for training future military officers. In 2005, he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science. This degree helped him understand technical subjects better.
Later, when he was training to become an astronaut, Shubhanshu studied more. He earned a Master of Technology degree in Aerospace Engineering from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bangalore. This degree made him an expert in aerospace, which is important for flying planes and spacecraft. His education gave him the skills to succeed as a pilot and astronaut.
Shubhanshu Shukla Astronaut Age, Wikipedia, Biography, Birth Place, Wife, Family
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Shubhanshu Shukla |
| Date of Birth | October 10, 1985 |
| Place of Birth | Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India |
| Family | - Father: Shambhu Dayal Shukla (Retired government officer) - Mother: Asha Shukla (Homemaker) - Sisters: Nidhi (MBA), Suchi (School teacher) - Wife: Dr. Kamna Shukla (Dentist) - Son: 4 years old |
| Education | - School: City Montessori School, Lucknow - B.Sc. (Computer Science), National Defence Academy, Pune (2005) - M.Tech. (Aerospace Engineering), Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore |
| Military Career | - Joined Indian Air Force: June 2006 - Rank: Group Captain (Promoted March 2024) - Role: Fighter pilot and test pilot - Aircraft Flown: Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, MiG-29, Jaguar, Hawk, Dornier, An-32 - Flying Experience: 2,000+ hours - Other Roles: Combat leader |
| Astronaut Training | - Selected for Gaganyaan Mission: 2019 - Training in Russia: Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center, Moscow (2020–2021) - Training in India: ISRO’s Astronaut Training Facility, Bangalore |
| Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) | - Mission Date: June 10, 2025 - Role: Mission Pilot - Crew: Peggy Whitson (Commander, USA), Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski (Poland), Tibor Kapu (Hungary) - Spacecraft: SpaceX Dragon (Falcon 9 rocket) - Destination: ISS - Duration: 14 days - Tasks: Scientific experiments, outreach, commercial activities - Special Notes: First Indian to visit ISS, second Indian in space after Rakesh Sharma (1984) |
| Gaganyaan Mission | - Role: Astronaut (one of four selected) - Mission Year: Planned for 2026 - Details: India’s first human spaceflight, 3-day mission in Low Earth Orbit, using LVM3 rocket |
| Achievements | - Cleared UPSC NDA exam (1999) - Skilled fighter and test pilot - Selected for Gaganyaan mission (2019) - First Indian to pilot a spacecraft to ISS (Ax-4, 2025) - Promoted to Group Captain (2024) |
| Personal Interests | Exercising, reading science and space books, learning about horoscopes (agnostic) |
| Cultural Contribution | Plans to take Indian cultural items to ISS, perform yoga in space, inspire 1.4 billion Indians, promote science |
| Nickname | Shuks (Mission call sign for Ax-4) |
| Impact | Represents India’s growing role in space exploration; inspires youth; contributes to ISRO’s human spaceflight knowledge |
Indian Air Force Career
Shubhanshu joined the Indian Air Force in June 2006. He became a fighter pilot in the IAF’s fighter wing. He flew many types of aircraft, like the Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, MiG-29, Jaguar, Hawk, Dornier, and An-32. He has over 2,000 hours of flying experience, which is a lot. Shubhanshu became a test pilot, a special job where pilots test new planes to check if they are safe and work well. He was also a combat leader, which means he led other pilots during missions. His skills and hard work made him respected in the IAF.
In March 2024, Shubhanshu was promoted to Group Captain. This is a high rank in the Indian Air Force. His experience as a pilot and test pilot made him a perfect choice for India’s space program.
Journey to Becoming an Astronaut
In 2019, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chose Shubhanshu for its Gaganyaan mission. Gaganyaan is India’s first human spaceflight program, planned for 2026. ISRO picked four astronauts, and Shubhanshu was one of them. The other astronauts are Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair, Group Captain Ajit Krishnan, and Group Captain Angad Pratap. Shubhanshu’s selection was a big moment in his life.
To prepare for space, Shubhanshu went to Russia in 2020. He trained at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Moscow. The training lasted one year and was very tough. He learned how to live and work in space. He practiced using space equipment and handling emergencies. After finishing his training in Russia in 2021, he returned to India. He continued training at ISRO’s Astronaut Training Facility in Bangalore. This training helped him get ready for his space missions.
Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4)
Shubhanshu’s biggest achievement is piloting Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4). This mission will launch on June 10, 2025, from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The spacecraft is a SpaceX Dragon, carried by a Falcon 9 rocket. Shubhanshu will be the mission pilot, working with Commander Peggy Whitson from the USA, and mission specialists Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski from Poland and Tibor Kapu from Hungary. The crew will stay on the ISS for 14 days. They will do scientific experiments, outreach programs, and commercial activities.
This mission is special because Shubhanshu will be the first Indian to visit the ISS. He will also be the second Indian to go to space, 41 years after Rakesh Sharma’s spaceflight in 1984. Rakesh Sharma flew on a Russian Soyuz spacecraft. Shubhanshu’s mission is different because it is a private spaceflight with Axiom Space, NASA, and SpaceX. The mission costs about ₹500 crore (around $60 million) for India, paid by ISRO.
Shubhanshu is excited to share Indian culture in space. He plans to take cultural items from different parts of India to the ISS. He also wants to do yoga in space and show it to the world. He will take pictures and videos to share his experience with Indians. He said, “This is the journey of 1.4 billion people.” Shubhanshu wants to inspire young Indians to dream big and work in science and space.
The Ax-4 mission is important for India. It will help ISRO learn more about human spaceflight. Shubhanshu will do seven experiments chosen by ISRO. These experiments are about space nutrition, human-computer interaction, and other sciences. The knowledge from these experiments will help India’s Gaganyaan mission. Shubhanshu’s work will make India stronger in space exploration.
Gaganyaan Mission
Shubhanshu is also preparing for the Gaganyaan mission, planned for 2026. This mission will send three Indian astronauts to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) for three days. The spacecraft has two parts: the Crew Module, where astronauts sit, and the Service Module, which helps the spacecraft move and work. The rocket used will be a special version of India’s Launch Vehicle Mark III (LVM3). Gaganyaan will show that India can send humans to space on its own. Shubhanshu’s experience from Ax-4 will help make Gaganyaan successful.
Personal Life and Interests
Shubhanshu is a family man. He loves spending time with his wife, Dr. Kamna, and their son. His family is proud of him. His sister Suchi said, “We have goosebumps thinking our brother will be in space.” Shubhanshu’s nickname is “Shuks,” which is his mission call sign for Ax-4. He likes to stay fit by exercising. He also enjoys reading books about science and space. Recently, he started learning about horoscopes, which shows his curious nature.
Achievements and Impact
Shubhanshu Shukla’s journey is full of achievements. He cleared the tough NDA exam, became a skilled fighter pilot, and earned two degrees. He flew many aircraft and became a test pilot. His selection for the Gaganyaan mission and Ax-4 mission shows his talent. He will be the first Indian to pilot a spacecraft to the ISS. This makes him a hero for India.
Shubhanshu’s mission is more than just going to space. It shows India’s growing power in space exploration. His work will help ISRO learn how to send humans to space. It will also inspire young people in India to study science, technology, and engineering. Shubhanshu wants to “ignite curiosity” in the next generation. His journey proves that hard work and dreams can take you far, even to space.
Conclusion
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is a proud Indian astronaut. Born in Lucknow, he worked hard to become a fighter pilot and test pilot. His education and training made him ready for space. On June 10, 2025, he will pilot Axiom Mission 4 to the ISS, becoming the first Indian to visit it. He is also part of the Gaganyaan mission, India’s first human spaceflight program. Shubhanshu’s story is about courage, dedication, and dreams. He carries the hopes of 1.4 billion Indians to the stars. His journey will inspire many to aaim high and reach for the sky.