Shukla, who is the mission pilot, is India’s second astronaut going into space — four decades after Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma made history in 1984. The 39-year-old fighter pilot was chosen by ISRO as the prime astronaut for this historic flight.
Who is Shubhanshu Shukla
Shubhanshu Shukla is a serving IAF officer and a part of Indian Space Research Organisation’s historic Gaganyaan mission, India’s first crewed spaceflight mission.
Born on October 10, 1985, in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, Shukla is fluent in both English and Hindi. In 2005, he completed his military training and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from the National Defense Academy. His journey with flying began back in 2006 when he was commissioned into the IAF fighter wing.
As a combat leader and seasoned pilot, Shubhanshu Shukla is skilled with various aircrafts with 2,000 hours of flight experience including Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, MiG-29, Jaguar, Hawk and more. His ascent to the rank of group captain in March 2024 reflects his exceptional contributions.
In 2019 after receiving a momentous call from ISRO, Shukla was inducted in the astronaut selection process by Institute of Aerospace Medicine (IAM) and was one of the four selected astronauts. In 2020, he embarked on rigorous training at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Moscow, Russia for a year-long preparation that would shape his destiny.
Axiom Mission 4
Ax‑4 represents a milestone for India‘s Indian Human Spaceflight Programme, integrating with ISRO‘s Gaganyaan initiative. While Gaganyaan remains India‘s independent crewed program, Ax‑4 provides the first opportunity for an Indian astronaut—Shubhanshu Shukla—to fly on a commercial mission to the ISS.
Shukla will conduct experiments developed by ISRO and Indian institutions, including studies of cognitive effects of screen use, microbial adaptation, muscle atrophy, and crop resilience in microgravity.
Experiments
The experiments are co-ordinated by Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO).
Space Microalgae
(International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) & National Institute of Plant Genome Research (NIPGR), India)— Impact of Microgravity and Radiation in ISS on Edible Microalgae.
Myogenesis
- (Institute of Stem Cell Science and Regenerative Medicine (InStem), India) —
Effect of metabolic supplements on muscle regeneration under microgravity
Sprouts
(University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad & Indian Institute of Technology, Dharwad) — Sprouting Salad Seeds in Space: Relevance to Crew Nutrition.
Voyager Tardigrade
(Indian Institute of Science) — Survival, revival, reproduction, and transcriptome of the eutardigrade Paramacrobiotus sp. BLR strain in space.
Voyager Displays
(Indian Institute of Science) — Analyzing Human Interaction with Electronic Displays in Microgravity.[12][13]. The study will compare performance of on board and ground crews with respect to ISO 9241 pointing task, Spatial 2-back task, Perceived Stress and WHO Mental Well Being tests.
Cyanobacteria in Microgravity
(International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB)) — Comparative growth and proteomics responses of cyanobacteria on urea and nitrate in microgravity.
Food Crop Seeds in Microgravity
(Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology & Kerala Agricultural University) — Impact of Microgravity on Growth and Yield Parameters in Food Crop Seeds.
HIstoric MILESTONE OF INDIA
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla’s successful launch aboard the Axiom-4 mission is a historic milestone for India, signalling the country’s re-entry into human spaceflight after four decades. It highlights the expanding role of commercial space missions and international cooperation, and it ignites a new wave of enthusiasm and pride in India’s space program. This mission is not only a tribute to India’s past achievements but also a beacon for its future aspirations in space exploration.
Words of Shubanshu Shukla
This is not just the beginning of my journey to the International Space Station, but the beginning of India’s human space programme and it is my desire that all the countrymen become a part of this journey,” Group Captain Shukla said.
“Your chest, too, should swell with pride… Together, let’s embark on this journey of India’s Human Space Programme. Jai Hind! Jai Bharat,” Group Captain Shukla said.
The Tiranga (Tricolour) on my shoulders tells me that I am not alone and I am with all of you
