“Namaste. I am Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla.” These proud words from the Indian Air Force officer Shubhanshu Shukla marked the beginning of his historic journey into space. A combat pilot for 15 years, Shukla is set to become the first Indian astronaut to visit the International Space Station (ISS) on the upcoming Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission.
Also called Mission Akash Ganga, Ax-4 is a landmark private spaceflight operated by Axiom Space, scheduled to launch on June 10 from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. After a 28-hour journey aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon C213, the mission will dock with the ISS on June 11 around 10 PM IST.
Representing India, meet #Ax4 Mission Pilot Shubhanshu Shukla. @isro pic.twitter.com/3NkwIP3ER7
— Axiom Space (@Axiom_Space) June 8, 2025
Decorated Career in the Skies
Born in Lucknow, the 39-year-old Group Captain was commissioned into the Indian Air Force in June 2006. Over the years, he has logged over 2,000 flight hours testing and flying advanced aircraft such as the Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, MiG-29, Jaguar, Hawk, Dornier, and An-32. In 2020, Shukla was selected as one of four astronauts for ISRO’s Gaganyaan mission—India’s first human spaceflight initiative.
“The first Indian astronaut, Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma, travelled to space in 1984. I grew up reading about him in textbooks and listening to his stories from space,” recalled Shukla. “I was deeply, deeply impressed by him.” Though his journey began with dreams of flying, the path to becoming an astronaut came later. “I have been extremely fortunate and extremely lucky to have gotten the opportunities to first fly all my life, which was a dream job for me, and then have the opportunity to apply to astronaut’s court and now consequently be here.”
Joining the Global Space Team
Shukla found out about his selection for the Axiom mission just a week before arriving at the facility. “I was extremely excited to be here. I was very, very happy because this was a possibility for me to fly to space. You don’t know how to respond to such things.” The Ax-4 mission is a global collaboration led by veteran NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson.
Ms. Whitson praised Shukla, saying, “For me, having him as my pilot in the Dragon capsule is great. He already has that operational savvy, you know, he’s just wicked smart when it comes to spacecraft technologies.” Fellow crew member and Polish mission specialist Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski said, “He is very focused and he will go one, two, three, four in a record time. I don’t even know how he gets there so fast.” Hungarian astronaut Tibor Kapu added, “Shukla’s wisdom, the knowledge that he possesses, he could be 130 years old.”
Inspiring the Next Generation of Indian Dreamers
Shukla has valued the camaraderie during training. “The team that I am flying with on this mission is fantastic. I do feel that, you know, I have exceptional crewmates. I will have these crew members for this one flight, but post this mission. These are going to be my friends for life.” He expressed the significance of the mission beyond its technical goals. “These are moments that tell you that you are getting to be a part of something much larger than yourself. I can only say how extremely fortunate I am to be a part of this.” Shukla hopes his journey will ignite curiosity in Indian children and inspire the next generation of scientists and explorers. “If my story changes one life, it would be a great success.”
When the Dragon capsule docks with the ISS, Shubhanshu Shukla will become only the second Indian to travel to space, and the first as part of an international commercial spaceflight. “I am Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, and I am the mission pilot for exit formation.”
