“Namaskar, my dear countrymen! What a ride! We are back in 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.”
(Shubhanshu Shukla’s first message after lift off)
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla was born on October 10, 1985, in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, as the youngest of three siblings. Inspired by the bravery of Indian soldiers during the Kargil War, he joined the National Defence Academy and later became a fighter pilot in the Indian Air Force in 2006. Over his career spanning two decades, he accumulated over 2,000 flying hours on aircraft such as the Su-30, MiG-29, MiG-21, Hawk, and Dornier. His exceptional skills and dedication led him to be selected in 2019 for India’s astronaut cadre under the Gaganyaan programme. He trained extensively in Russia at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center and later at ISRO’s Astronaut Training Facility in Bengaluru, earning an M.Tech in Aerospace Engineering from IISc Bengaluru.
On June 25, 2025, Shubhanshu Shukla made history as the first Indian astronaut to travel to the International Space Station (ISS) under Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4)—a partnership involving ISRO, Axiom Space, NASA, and partners from Hungary and Poland. He launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center and docked at the ISS the following day. He spent about 18 days in orbit, conducting around 60 experiments in microgravity, including seven designed by Indian institutions. He was also the second Indian to go to space after Rakesh Sharma in 1984.
The experiments he did in space covered a wide range of scientific studies: growing microalgae to explore sustainable nutrition and oxygen production; sprouting moong and fenugreek seeds to examine space agriculture; studying tardigrades (tiny resilient creatures) to uncover survival mechanisms; analyzing muscle degeneration (myogenesis) and testing supplements to counter muscle loss; cognitive and ergonomic studies on how astronauts use screens and interact with digital displays; and growing cyanobacteria under different nutrient conditions to study biofuel or oxygen generation potentials.
Shukla also gained crucial operational experience: practicing spacecraft boarding and emergency escape procedures, international crew coordination, medical diagnostics, pre-launch quarantine processes, and health telemetry during flight. These insights are directly applicable to planning and execution phases of India’s upcoming Gaganyaan mission, slated for 2027.
During his mission, Shukla orbited Earth over 310 times, covering about 13 million km and witnessing more than 300 sunrises and sunsets. He shared live interactions with students—using ham radio communications and video calls, including one with Prime Minister Modi—expressing that his journey was “the journey of 1.4 billion Indians.” His messages emphasized Earth’s unity, mental resilience, and India’s rapid progress in space science.
He returned safely on July 15, 2025, in a SpaceX capsule that splashed down off the California coast. Though he did not draw a salary for the mission, ISRO invested around Rs 548 crore to sponsor his training, logistics, and the onboard Indian experiments—an investment seen as a critical step toward India’s independent human spaceflight future.
Post-mission, Shukla described Ax-4 not as India’s first spaceflight but its “second orbit”, stressing that India is now ready not just to fly, but to lead. He declared this mission a historic achievement and highlighted its value for India’s human spaceflight roadmap.
Shubhanshu Shukla’s voyage to space is both a personal triumph and a national milestone. As the first Indian to live and work on the ISS, he bridged the gap between Rakesh Sharma’s Soviet-era flight in 1984 and India’s own upcoming Gaganyaan mission. His scientific contributions and operational experience lay a strong foundation for training procedures, health protocols, and technological needs in future space missions. Beyond science, his outreach—speaking to students, sharing his view of Earth from orbit—ignited curiosity across the country, especially among young minds in remote areas.
Shukla’s mission also signifies India’s emergence on the global stage of human spaceflight. It demonstrates India’s readiness to collaborate internationally while preparing to operate its own crewed spacecraft. The scientific data collected, especially on microgravity effects on plants, humans, and microbes, will help design sustainable life-support systems for longer missions—such as future lunar exploration, India’s planned space station, and beyond.
In conclusion, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla’s journey is a defining moment in India’s space history. It is a testament to India’s growing technical skill, scientific ambition, and passion for exploration. His Axiom-4 mission and the experiments he conducted not only reflect personal dedication but also mark a major step toward India’s goal of becoming a leader in human space exploration. India’s journey to the stars is now firmly underway.
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