Shubhanshu Shukla Set to Make Stellar Strides with Historic Space Flight

Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, a decorated Indian Air Force pilot and astronaut, is poised to carve his name into the annals of history by becoming the second Indian to venture into space. His much-anticipated journey to the International Space Station(ISS) will commence on Wednesday, June 11, aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft, as part of the Axiom-4 mission. The launch, rescheduled by a day due to inclement weather, will take place at 8:00 am ET (5:30 pm IST) from Kennedy Space Centre in Florida.

Shukla, affectionately known as Shux, will be joined by a multinational crew comprising Dr. Peggy Whitson from the USA (mission commander), Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski from Poland, and Tibor Kapu from Hungary. Their collaborative expedition marks a major milestone in Indo-US space cooperation.

Adding a personal and cultural flavor to the mission, Shukla will be carrying a few beloved Indian dishes like aamras, moong dal halwa, and gajar halwa. His sister, Suchi Shukla, a science educator based in Lucknow, shared with NDTV Profit, "Since Indian food is high on spices, he wasn't getting the permission to carry them. But finally, they did allow a few varieties." She added, "He is a fitness freak and highly into yoga, so I am sure he will balance it."

Onboard the ISS, Shukla will play a pivotal role mission by assisting with launch, docking, and re-entry operations. More significantly, he will also conduct seven India-specific space experiments, including research on tardigrades (Water bears), resilient microscopic organisms, to explore their adaptation in microgravity. This research is intended to broaden our understanding of biological resilience in extraterrestrial conditions.

The crew is slated to spend up to 14 days in orbit, engaging in over 60 scientific experiments spanning materials science, Earth observations, and biology. Axiom Space stated, “This will be the most research and science-related activities conducted on an Axiom Space mission aboard the International Space Station to date,” highlighting the expedition’s collaborative, trailblazing, and global nature.

At 39, Shukla is the youngest of the four astronauts trained under India’s ambitious Gaganyaan program. A graduate of the National Defence Academy, he was commissioned into the IAF in 2006. With approximately 2,000 flight hours on aircraft like the Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, Jaguar, Hawk, and An-32, Shukla stands as a paragon of excellence, bringing prestige to India's evolving role in aerospace innovation.

His journey is more than a flight—it’s a symbol of resilience, curiosity, and the limitless possibilities of Indian space ambition.