IAF Pilot Shubhanshu Shukla to Become First Indian on ISS via Private Space Mission

Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is set to become the first Indian astronaut to visit the International Space Station (ISS) aboard the Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission, launching June 10. A decorated combat pilot with 15 years in the Indian Air Force, Shukla will serve as pilot of SpaceX’s Crew Dragon C213 capsule. The mission, also called Akash Ganga, will dock with the ISS around 10 PM IST on June 11 after a 28-hour flight. Shukla, 39, born in Lucknow and commissioned in 2006, has logged over 2,000 flying hours across a range of fighter and transport aircraft.

Axiom Praises Indian Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla for ‘Operational Savvy’ Ahead of ISS Flight

As per Axiom Space’s official crew profile, Shukla brings operational depth and technological insight to the mission. The former Gaganyaan astronaut trainee was named Ax-4 pilot just days before arriving at Axiom. Lead astronaut Peggy Whitson praised Shukla’s “operational savvy” and described him as “wicked smart” with respect to spacecraft systems. Mission specialists from Poland and Hungary echoed similar admiration, calling his pace “record-breaking” and his wisdom “ageless”.

Shukla has flown aircraft including the Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, Jaguar, and Dornier, but his journey into space marks a new milestone in India’s expanding role in commercial spaceflight. His path began with the dream of flying and grew into a deeper aspiration after reading about Rakesh Sharma, India’s first astronaut. “I was deeply impressed by him,” Shukla mentioned in a crew introduction, reflecting on his early inspiration.

The Ax-4 mission, led by Whitson and coordinated with NASA, is the fourth commercial flight by Axiom Space and represents international cooperation at its finest. Shukla described his training period as deeply fulfilling, crediting his crewmates for becoming “friends for life”. He called the mission a chance to be part of something “much larger than yourself” and expressed gratitude for the opportunity to represent India in orbit.

Docked to the ISS, Shukla will be just the second ever Indian to float in space and the first Indian in space on a foreign, private mission. He wants the story of his journey to generate interest among young Indians dreaming of science and space. “Even if it just changes one life, it’s worth it,” he remarked.