From Lucknow to ISS: The inspirational journey of India’s next astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla 'Shux'

IAF Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla

From the busy lanes of Triveni Nagar in Lucknow to the threshold of space, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla’s journey has been one of grit, ambition, and quiet determination. On May 29, he is set to script history as the first Indian to travel to the International Space Station (ISS).

The 39-year-old Indian Air Force (IAF) officer will be aboard Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4), a private space mission operated by US-based Axiom Space in collaboration with NASA. The mission will launch from Florida’s Kennedy Space Center atop SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket, with Shukla inside the Dragon crew capsule, heading 400 kilometers above Earth to the orbiting laboratory.

Born in 1985, just a year after India’s first spacefarer Rakesh Sharma returned from space, Shukla grew up fascinated by tales of the cosmos. Yet, the idea of becoming an astronaut felt far-fetched during his childhood — India didn’t have an active human space program then. Instead, it was an air show that sparked his dream, watching fighter jets roar across the sky.

He quietly applied to the National Defence Academy (NDA) at 16, without even informing his parents. That act of silent resolve would become a pattern in his life, surfacing again in 2019 when he volunteered for astronaut training after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the Gaganyaan programme — India’s own human space mission.

A proud alumnus of City Montessori School in Lucknow, Shukla was commissioned into the IAF in 2006. Over the years, he carved an exemplary career as a Fighter Combat Leader and experimental test pilot, clocking over 2,000 flight hours across aircraft such as the Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, Jaguar, and An-32.

Known to friends and family by his nickname “Gunjan,” Shukla is described as meticulous, driven, and deeply passionate about science and technology. His family — wife, a practicing dentist, their four-year-old son, and his parents — have been unwavering in their support as he pursued a path few dare to tread.

Shukla is one of four Indian Air Force officers selected as astronaut-designates for Gaganyaan, alongside Group Captains Ajit Krishnan, Prashanth Nair, and Angad Prathap. Their intensive training began at the Institute of Aerospace Medicine in Bengaluru, followed by a year at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre in Russia — the same place where Rakesh Sharma once trained.

Earlier this year, Prime Minister Modi officially named the four Gaganyaan astronauts. And shortly after, Shukla was selected to pilot the Ax-4 mission — becoming India’s first astronaut to fly in a multinational private spaceflight.

“This mission is much bigger than me. I may be going alone, but it’s the journey of 1.4 billion people,” Shukla remarked from Houston, where he is currently undergoing final preparations at Axiom’s headquarters.

Shukla’s training has taken him across NASA’s Johnson Space Center, SpaceX’s California facilities, and Axiom’s own simulation labs. He’s undergone zero-gravity drills, altitude simulations, emergency response training, and life-support system testing. The mission has offered him a deep appreciation for the orchestration required in space travel — engineers, doctors, mission directors, and international teams all working in tandem.

The Ax-4 crew is led by space veteran Peggy Whitson, the most experienced US astronaut with over 665 days in orbit. Joining her and Shukla are Polish ESA reserve astronaut Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski and Hungarian Air Force pilot Tibor Kapu. Shukla’s call sign for the mission is “Shux”.

Once aboard the ISS, the crew will spend two weeks conducting over 60 scientific experiments. Notably, seven of these have been designed by Indian researchers, including four from Karnataka, two from Delhi, and one from Kerala. These studies will explore seed growth in microgravity, human interaction with digital displays in space, and more — offering insights relevant to long-duration missions and space agriculture.

Shukla also wants to carry a slice of India with him. In partnership with ISRO, he’s selected cultural tokens submitted by university students from across the country. The chosen items are a surprise — though he’s hinted at a tribute to Rakesh Sharma. He’s also hopeful about taking Indian food on board and plans to perform yoga in microgravity, blending science with spirituality.