Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla. (Photo: X/@IAF_MCC)
New Delhi: In a landmark step for India’s space exploration, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is set to become the second Indian gaganyatri – Indian term for astronaut – to venture into space. He will be part of the India-United States Axiom-4 mission to the International Space Station (ISS).
Gp Capt Shukla follows in the footsteps of Squadron Leader (later Wing Commander) Rakesh Sharma, who made history in 1984 by going to space as a part of the crew of the erstwhile Soviet Union’s Soyuz T-11 spacecraft.
On Friday, the Indian Space Research Organization (Isro) announced that Gp Capt Shukla has been selected as the prime gaganyatri for the mission, with Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair serving as the backup gaganyatri. This mission is a collaborative effort between Isro, US’s National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Nasa), and Axiom Space, a US-based space-infrastructure developer.
After touching the sky with glory, it's time for the #IAF to touch space with glory. Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla and Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair are chosen for the upcoming Indo-US Axiom-4 mission to the ISS. The prime astronaut, Group Captain Shukla, is an… pic.twitter.com/MpO7Vrfd4b
— Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) August 3, 2024
Gp Capt Shukla, born in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, on October 10, 1985, is an accomplished fighter pilot with the Indian Air Force. An alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla, Pune, he was commissioned into the IAF’s fighter stream in 2006. Over his career, he has accumulated around 2,000 hours of flying experience on various aircraft, including Sukhoi-30MKI, MiG-21, MiG-29, Jaguar, Hawk, Dornier-228, An-32, among others.
Both Gp Capt Shukla and Gp Capt Nair are among the four IAF pilots selected for Isro’s first manned space flight – the Gaganyaan mission. Through the Gaganyaan mission, Isro aims to demonstrate India’s human-spaceflight capability by launching a crew of three members to an orbit of 400 kilometres for a three-day space trip.
Earlier, on July 24, Union minister Jitendra Singh shared an update on the Gaganyaan mission in his reply to the Lok Sabha. The minister said the Isro was pursuing an Isro-Nasa joint mission to the ISS.
The Axiom 4 mission, scheduled for launch in October 2024, will be a 14-day private spaceflight to the ISS, operated by Axiom Space and supported by SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft. The mission will launch from the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida aboard a Space X’s Falcon 9 rocket. The Axiom-4 mission will be the fourth private astronaut mission to the ISS.
This mission is seen as a significant step in international space cooperation and highlights India’s growing capabilities in space exploration. This mission is expected not only to enhance India’s presence in space but also strengthen the collaboration between Isro, Nasa, and other private players in the space industry.
