New Delhi: Indian Air Force (IAF) Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is set to make history as the first Indian astronaut to travel to the International Space Station (ISS) on a private mission. He will embark on the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida as part of Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4), a joint venture between NASA and ISRO.
NASA announced on Thursday that the spaceflight is scheduled for no earlier than spring 2025. Expressing his excitement, Shukla stated that he looks forward to sharing his experience with ‘Bharatvaasis’ and plans to carry items representing India while also performing yoga aboard the ISS.
Who is Shubhanshu Shukla?
Born on October 10, 1985, in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, Shukla was commissioned into the IAF Fighter Wing in June 2006. A highly skilled test pilot and combat leader, he has accumulated over 2,000 flight hours on aircraft such as the Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, MiG-29, Jaguar, and Dornier.
In 2019, Shukla began his astronaut training at Russia’s Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center, completing a year-long rigorous program. Currently, he serves as the astronaut-designate for India’s Gaganyaan mission.
Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4): A Historic Spaceflight
Ax-4 is a private spaceflight that will see India, Poland, and Hungary collaborate on a mission to the ISS. The mission is significant as it marks the return of human spaceflight for Poland and Hungary after over 40 years.
Shukla follows in the footsteps of Rakesh Sharma, who became the first Indian in space in 1984 aboard the Soviet Soyuz T-11 mission. His participation in Ax-4 highlights India’s growing presence in global space exploration.
