Image Source: Agencies

June 8, 2025: “Namaste. I am Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla.” The Indian Air Force officer spoke these proud words as he introduced himself prior to his historic mission into space. Mr. Shukla, who has been a combat pilot for 15 years, will be the first Indian astronaut to visit the ISS on the upcoming Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission. Also called Mission Akash Ganga, Ax-4 is a landmark private spaceflight by Axiom Space, launching 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.
The Axiom Space introduction begins, "From the Indian Space Research Organization, AX4 pilot Shubhanshu Shukla." In June of 2006, the Lucknow-born 39-year-old Group Captain was commissioned into the Indian Air Force. He has tested and flown aircraft such as the Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, MiG-29, Jaguar, Hawk, Dornier, and An-32 for more than 2,000 hours.
Mr. Shukla was chosen in 2020 as one of four astronauts for the Gaganyaan mission, India's first attempt at human spaceflight. His journey has taken an exciting new turn four years later. “In 1984, Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma became the first Indian to go into space. Mr. Shukla recalled, "I grew up listening to his stories from space and reading about him in textbooks." "I was profoundly, profoundly impressed by him." His current journey began with his aspirations of flying, but his path to becoming an astronaut came later. “I would say that 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.”
A week before he arrived at Axiom, Mr Shukla found out he was part of the mission. I couldn't have been happier to be here. I was very, very happy because this was a possibility for me to actually fly to space. You don't know how to respond to such things.”
Led by veteran NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, the Ax-4 mission is a global collaboration. "For me, having him as my pilot in the Dragon capsule is great," Ms. Whitson said of Mr. Shukla. He already has that operational savvy, you know, he's just wicked smart when it comes to spacecraft technologies.”
Mr. Shukla was also praised by other crew members. Polish mission specialist Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski said, “He is very focused and he will basically go one, two, three, four in a record time. I have no idea how he gets there so quickly. "Shukla's wisdom, the knowledge that he possesses, he could be 130 years old," added Hungary's Tibor Kapu. For Shukla, training and bonding with his international crew has been rewarding. “The team that I am flying with on this mission, it is fantastic. I do believe that I have outstanding crewmates, you know. I will have these crew members for this one flight but post this mission. These are going to be my friends for life.”
"These are moments that really tell you that you are getting to be a part of something that is much larger than yourself," he continued. The only thing I can say is how fortunate I am to be a part of this. Beyond the mission's technical goals, Mr Shukla aims to inspire a whole generation in India by igniting curiosity among children. He hopes that his story will be a great success even if it only affects one life. In a few days, when the Dragon capsule docks with the ISS, Shubhanshu Shukla will become only the second Indian ever to travel to space and the first as part of an international commercial spaceflight.
"I'm Shubhanshu Shukla, Group Captain, and I'm the exit formation mission pilot."