IAF Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is set to make history as the first Indian astronaut to fly to the International Space Station. He will be flying (ISS) aboard SpaceX Dragon as part of Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) in May 2025. Serving as the mission pilot, Shukla will be among four private astronauts on this pioneering journey. He will be joined by mission commander and former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, as well as mission specialists Sawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski from Poland and Tibor Kapu from Hungary. His selection marks a significant milestone in India’s growing participation in global space exploration.
Shubhanshu Shukla set to make history
The 14-day Ax-4 mission will focus on scientific research, educational outreach, and commercial activities in microgravity. Shukla plans to showcase India’s cultural heritage by carrying artefacts and performing yoga poses in space. This collaboration between NASA, Axiom Space, and ISRO paves the way for future private astronaut missions.
Meet #Ax4‘s Pilot Shubhanshu Shukla. Shubhanshu is a distinguished pilot in the Indian Air Force and was handpicked as one of the four astronauts for @ISRO‘s historic Gaganyaan mission, the nation’s inaugural human spaceflight endeavor. Learn more:https://t.co/Bb7lDVdq7x. pic.twitter.com/Xjx651864G
— Axiom Space (@Axiom_Space) January 30, 2025
Shubhanshu Shukla is a combat leader and seasoned test pilot with about 2,000 hours of flying experience. He has experience flying various aircraft, including the Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, MiG-29, Jaguar, Hawk, Dornier 228, and An-32.
