Shubhanshu Shukla, 39, Group Captain and fighter pilot from the Indian Air Force
Shubhanshu Shukla, Group Captain, born on October 10, 1985, in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, has charted an extraordinary journey from IAF fighter pilot to astronaut. He is the first Indian in nearly four decades to travel to the International Space Station (ISS), selected as pilot for Axiom Mission 4—a trailblazing private space mission by Axiom Space, SpaceX, NASA, and ISRO .
Educational Background
Raised in Lucknow, Shukla attended City Montessori School, inspired by the Kargil War to join the armed forces. He secretly filled the NDA form as a teenager and trained at NDA (graduating 2005) and IAF Academy before commissioning into the fighter stream in June 2006. Holds a B.Sc in Computer Science from NDA and completed an M.Tech in Aerospace Engineering from IISc Bangalore while undergoing astronaut training.
IAF Career & Test Pilot
With over 2,000 flight hours, Shukla has flown platforms including Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, MiG-29, Jaguar, Hawk, Dornier, An-32, serving as a Fighter Combat Leader and test pilot. Promoted to Group Captain in March 2024, he earned respect for his discipline, technical skills, and leadership.
Mission Pilot, Axiom Mission 4
Appointed pilot for Axiom Mission 4, launching June 25, 2025, aboard SpaceX’s Dragon/Crew Dragon from Kennedy Space Center to the ISS. His responsibilities include manual docking, re-entry, and in-orbit experiments—earning praise as “wicked smart” from mission commander Peggy Whitson. Conducting over 60 scientific experiments, including studies on Indian crops (fenugreek, moong daal), extremophiles, muscle health, and space-use education for students.
Personal Attributes
Married to dentist Dr. Kamna Shubha Shukla; the couple has a young son. Youngest of three siblings; influenced by a close-knit family rooted in discipline and service.Pursues hobbies like reading tech books, fitness, horoscopes, and astrophotography.
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