Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is the pride of the Indian Air Force (IAF). The respected officer is also one of the astronauts designated under the Gaganyaan mission, which will be heading to space on June 11, 2025. For the unversed, the initial launch was set for June 10, 2025. However, it was delayed due to the bad weather conditions. Shubhanshu Shukla will be joining a team of astronauts as part of the Axiom-4 mission to the International Space Station (ISS).
Shubhanshu Shukla’s journey marks not only an important milestone in his career but also a significant moment in India’s space ambitions. The mission is part of a privately funded commercial effort, with India reportedly investing over 60 million US dollars to facilitate the young IAF officer’s flight to the ISS. As the country looks forward to Shubhanshu creating history, let’s take a look at his journey so far.
Who is Shubhashu Shukla?
Shubhanshu Shukla is the Group Captain of the Indian Air Force. For the unversed, a Group Captain is the immediate senior of the wing commander and immediately below the air commodore. It is the first selection-grade rank and is equivalent to Colonel in the Indian Army and Captain in the Indian Navy. Shubhanshu hails from Lucknow and is an alumnus of City Montessori School in Aliganj. The young officer was commissioned into the IAF in 2006, and he has since built a distinguished career as a fighter pilot with a marvellous flying time of over 2,000 hours and more than 16 years of service.
Shubhanshu Shukla was given the nickname ‘Gunjan’ and is the youngest of three siblings in his family. The IAF officer is also the first in the Shukla family to join the armed forces. His aviation career spanned multiple aircraft, including the Su-30MKI, MIG-21, MIG-29, Jaguar, and Hawk. He is a qualified fighter combat leader and a decorated test pilot. Shubhanshu is not only the pride of his family but also the country.
Shubhanshu Shukla took the NDA exams without telling his family
It was the winter of December 2001 when Shubhanshu Shukla took the National Defence Academy (NDA) exams during his elder sister, Shuchi Shukla’s wedding. The then-teenager, Shubhanshu, disappeared from the wedding festivities for hours, leaving his family anxious and his father, Shambhu Dayal Shukla, furious over his apparent irresponsibility. However, once he returned, despite being absolutely exhausted, he only said, “Now, tell me what to do.”
However, he managed to keep his secret from his family for the next two years. When asked about what inspired him to join the armed forces, his sister, Shuchi, revealed that Shubhanshu Shukla was inspired by an Indian Air Force (IAF) airshow at Bakshi-ka-Talab. Shuchi, who is now a private school teacher in Lucknow, recalled how her brother only told them about his disappearance from her wedding after he had cleared his exams. In an interview with TOI, she was quoted as saying:
“Gunjan—that’s his pet name—was 14, when the Kargil War stirred him. Two years later, he borrowed an NDA form from a friend and applied without telling us. It was only after clearing the exam that he revealed why he disappeared during my vidai.”
Shubhanshu Shukla is extremely reserved about his work
While most people like to boast about their achievements, Indian armed forces are known to work in anonymity. The same goes for Shubhanshu Shukla, who has always been reserved about his work when at home. His sister, Shuchi, recalled the 2019 Balakot airstrike and revealed that her brother was unreachable for days. However, when she asked him about it, he changed the topic. She was quoted as saying:
“I asked if he was involved, but he just said, ‘Let it be, Didi, talk about something else.'”
Shubhanshu Shukla’s mother, Asha Shukla, was not keen on him joining the space program
Shubhanshu Shukla’s father, Shumbhu Dayal Shukla, who is a retired joint secretary from the UP secretariat, initially scolded him for hiding such a big decision from them. However, he now beams over the honour of his son, not just as his family but also as an Indian. Additionally, as the time for his space expedition nears, his father reveals that he prays that the mission is a success. However, Shubhanshu Shukla’s mother, Asha, was not as keen on his ambition to become an astronaut. Shuchi recalls what their mother said she was quoted as saying:
“She told him to stay on Earth.”
Shubhanshu Shukla hid his enrolment in the Ganganyaan Mission from his family as well
However, Shubhanshu Shukla set his will and quietly enrolled on the Gaganyaan Mission, keeping it from his family, just as he did with the NDA exam. Shubhanshu’s sister added that her brother has never wavered in his ambitions, while his father, Shambhu, also shared that he is prepared for the mission and will surely succeed. As Shubhanshu gears up for the Axiom Mission 4 to the ISS, backed by ISRO’s Rs. 5 billion investment, his family in Lucknow is filled with nothing but pride.
Shubhanshu Shukla was selected by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for their Human Spaceflight Program (HSP). He was a top contender for the future Gaganyaan mission as well. For the past eight months, he has been undergoing intensive training with NASA and Axiom Space. With this mission, Shubhanshu will become the first Indian astronaut to venture into space in over four decades, following Rakesh Sharma’s historic flight aboard a Soviet Soyuz spacecraft in 1984.
About Axiom-4 Mission
The Axiom-4, also known as the Ax-4 mission, is the fourth private astronaut expedition to the International Space Station. It launches from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, propelled by a Falcon 9 rocket. The mission is being led by former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, who is now the serving commander of Axiom Space. The international crew includes Slawosz Uznanski from Poland (European Space Agency) and Tibor Kapu from Hungary, both serving as mission specialists. Group Captain Shukla joins them as the mission’s pilot, a role of high responsibility and precision.
image credit @axiom.space
Shubhanshu Shukla is truly the pride of India. What are your thoughts on his journey from NDA aspirant to the face of India’s collaborated space mission? Let us know.
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