Gaganyaan Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla to Travel to ISS with Axiom-4 Mission

New Delhi: In a historic milestone for India’s space program, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla will become the country’s first astronaut to travel to the International Space Station (ISS). The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) announced on Friday that Shukla will be the prime mission pilot for the upcoming Axiom-4 mission in collaboration with US-based Axiom Space.

Shukla, along with fellow Air Force officer Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair as backup, will undergo rigorous training starting in the first week of August. The duo, collectively termed ‘Gaganyaatri,’ will conduct scientific experiments and technology demonstrations aboard the ISS, in addition to engaging in public outreach activities.

This marks a significant step towards India’s ambitious Gaganyaan mission, which aims to send a three-member crew into orbit for three days before returning safely to Earth. The mission signifies India’s aspiration to establish itself as a global spacefaring nation.

Hailing from the historic city of Lucknow, Shukla’s journey to the cosmos began nearly two decades ago when he joined the National Defence Academy. Inspired by the heroic tales of Indian soldiers during the 1999 Kargil War, the then 14-year-old Shukla was drawn to a career in the armed forces.