Shubhanshu Shukla’s path from a small town in Uttar Pradesh to orbiting Earth aboard the International Space Station (ISS) is a story of vision and dedication. Growing up, Shukla was not from a military family, but the 1999 Kargil War and an Air Force airshow lit a spark in him and without telling anyone, he applied to the National Defence Academy.
Shukla quickly proved himself. He became a decorated fighter pilot in the Indian Air Force (IAF), logging over 2,000 flight hours on advanced aircrafts. As a skilled test pilot, he earned a reputation for precision and control—skills that later became key in spaceflight.
Shukla’s Ambitions Reached Space
India announced its human spaceflight mission, Gaganyaan, in 2019. Shukla was one of just four IAF officers selected by ISRO for astronaut training. He was sent to Russia’s Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre, where he underwent months of rigorous training in survival techniques, orbital science, and high-stress simulations. According to ISRO and media sources including The Hindu and India Today, Shukla’s performance there helped him stand out internationally.
Shukla was chosen for Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4)- a collaboration between NASA, ISRO, Axiom Space, and SpaceX. With this, he became the first Indian to reach the ISS in over 40 years, following Rakesh Sharma’s historic 1984 mission aboard Soyuz T-11 [Outlook India, 2025].
On June 25, 2025, Shukla launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. He and his team docked with the ISS on June 26, beginning an 18-day mission in low Earth orbit. During this time, he carried out more than 60 experiments, many of which were designed by Indian researchers. These included studies on seed sprouting, microalgae cultivation, stem cells, and human cognitive response in microgravity [ISRO Briefing, June 2025].
A Mission That Reflects National Progress
On July 14, Shukla and the Ax-4 crew undocked from the ISS. Their Dragon capsule safely splashed down in the Pacific Ocean near California on July 15 at 3:01 PM IST. The successful return drew national attention. President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and ISRO officials praised the crew’s achievements. Shukla was soon reunited with his family in Lucknow after completing routine health checks. He has shared his experience in space, praising the country’s developmental milestones.
“After 41 years, a Bharatiya returned to space. But this time, it was not a solitary leap, it was the beginning of India’s second orbit. And this time, we are ready, not just to fly but to lead,” Shukla said.
Shukla’s journey reflects India’s rising strength in space science. His experiments on the ISS have contributed valuable data for ISRO’s future crewed missions, especially the Gaganyaan project. But even more than that, his story shows what’s possible when talent meets preparation. For young Indians, Shukla has become a symbol of grounded ambition.
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