
Lucknow To Low Earth Orbit: Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla Heads to Space Lab
India is all set to send its second astronaut into space, nearly four decades after Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma made history in 1984. This time, the mission is not with Russia but in collaboration with the United States, under the Indo-US Axiom-4 mission, also referred to as Mission Akash Ganga.
Space history in the making
India's astronaut, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, will walk in the footsteps of Astronaut Neil Armstrong, but Mr Shukla is not going to the moon. On his fortnight mission, Mr Shukla will travel to the orbiting International Space Laboratory.
Astronaut Shukla says, "As I prepare to spend 14 days aboard the ISS, I carry with me not just instruments and equipment, but the hopes and dreams of a billion hearts."
Mr Shukla considers himself fortunate to have opportunity to fly all his life. With this, he wishes to inspire an entire generation, generate curiosity among kids and leave a lasting impact. Recalling his journey, Mr Shukla called it a "long" one and added, "I have been extremely fortunate and lucky to have the opportunities to fly all my life, which was a dream job for me, apply to the astronaut corps, and now, consequently, be here. Probably a week before we arrived at Axiom, I came to know that I would be going. It is my sincere endeavour through my mission to inspire an entire generation back home in the country. I want to use this opportunity to ignite curiosity among kids. Even if this story, my story, can change one life, it will be a huge success for me."
Astronaut Shukla is "extremely excited" to fly to space.
Charming it is since this historic second flight for an Indian astronaut will take place from the same haloed Launch Complex 39 A at the Kennedy Space Center from which Astronaut Neil Armstrong lifted off on the Apollo 11 mission on July 16, 1969, to make history by becoming the first human to step on the moon.
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has selected Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, a 39-year-old fighter pilot from the Indian Air Force (IAF), as the prime astronaut for this historic flight. He is currently in pre-launch quarantine, a standard protocol to ensure astronauts are medically fit and isolated from potential infections before lift-off.
Born on October 10, 1985, in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, Mr Shukla is the youngest among the four astronaut designates trained under India's Gaganyaan program. An alumnus of the National Defence Academy, he was commissioned into the IAF on June 17, 2006, in the fighter stream. A decorated Fighter Combat Leader and Test Pilot, he has logged approximately 2,000 hours of flying experience across a wide range of aircraft, including the Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, MiG-29, Jaguar, Hawk, Dornier, and An-32.
When NDTV asked Group Captain Shukla about his first sortie into space and if he was confident of pulling it off, and having a happy splashdown or happy landing, he replied in his calm style.
"Yes, this is my first sortie to space, and over the past year, we have been training rigorously for this mission. I feel very confident, not just in my ability, but in the ability of this team sitting here to execute this mission successfully," he said.
The Axiom-4 mission, operated by Houston-based Axiom Space in partnership with NASA, will carry a four-member international crew aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft to the International Space Station (ISS). The crew includes Dr Peggy Whitson from the United States as mission commander, Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski from Poland, and Tibor Kapu from Hungary, both serving as mission specialists.
Dr Whitson, a 64-year-old biochemist and former NASA astronaut, is the most experienced American astronaut with 675 days in space. Her extensive experience includes 10 spacewalks totalling over 60 hours, and she currently serves as Director of Human Spaceflight at Axiom Space. Her leadership is expected to provide invaluable mentorship to Mr Shukla during the mission.
The backup astronaut for Mission Akash Ganga is Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair, the oldest among the astronaut designates. Born on August 26, 1976, in Thiruvazhiyad, Kerala, Mr Nair is also an alumnus of the National Defence Academy and was awarded the Sword of Honour at the Air Force Academy. Commissioned in 1998, he is a Category-A Flying Instructor and a Test Pilot with over 3,000 hours of flying experience. He has commanded a premier Su-30 squadron and is an alumnus of the United States Staff College.
Experts believe ISRO's decision to select the youngest astronaut as the prime candidate aligns with India's long-term vision for human spaceflight. With plans to send an Indian to the Moon by 2040, grooming younger astronauts ensures continuity and experience for future missions.
Mission Akash Ganga was born out of the India-US joint statement during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's state visit to the United States in June 2023. The agreement envisioned a collaborative effort between ISRO and NASA to send an Indian astronaut to the ISS, marking a new chapter in Indo-US space cooperation.
During the mission, Mr Shukla-referred to by colleagues as "Shux" because of his call sign -will not only serve as the mission pilot but also conduct scientific research and technology demonstration experiments aboard the ISS. ISRO has also indicated that he will participate in space outreach activities, helping to inspire the next generation of Indian scientists and engineers.
The mission is a significant leap for India's space ambitions. It demonstrates the country's readiness to participate in commercial and international spaceflight programs and lays the groundwork for more complex missions in the future, including lunar exploration.
As Mr Shukla prepares for launch, he carries the hopes of a billion Indians eager to see their nation take its place among the world's leading spacefaring countries. With a seasoned commander like Dr Whitson by his side and a diverse international crew, Mission Akash Ganga promises to be a landmark in India's cosmic journey.
"I have exceptional crewmates," says Mr Shukla, adding, "I will have these crew members for this one flight. But post this mission, these are going to be my friends for life. It has been an amazing journey. These are moments that tell you that you are getting to be a part of something much larger than yourself. I can only say how fortunate I am to be a part of this."
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Hindustan Times
4 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Axiom-4 launch: Space station leak concerns can further delay lift-off of mission carrying Indian Gaganyatri
The Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission, which is expected to carry four astronauts to the International Space Station, has already faced postponement four times. Now, a new concern has emerged for India's Shubhanshu Shukla, former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, Poland's Sławosz Uznański and Hungary's Tibor Kapu. Shukla will be only the second Indian astronaut in space, after Rakesh Sharma's 1984 mission. The launch of Axiom-4 has been postponed indefinitely owing to concerns of a leak reported from the International Space Station. Owing to the issue, NASA said Thursday that it would monitor the cabin pressure on the Russian side of the ISS before the mission is launched. However, NASA assured that the seven astronauts already in the ISS were safe, adding that operations on the space station can not be affected following the leak. The cabin pressure leak on the Zvezda service module is being handled by the country's space agency. However, recent repairs to resolve the issue led to 'a new pressure signature', according to NASA. However, no other details on the issue have been provided yet. However, the delay of Axiom-4 opens up time for NASA and the Russian Space Agency to carry out evaluations and see whether there is a need for more repairs. The three Russian astronauts who are currently on the space station had already inspected the walls of the service module, sealing a few areas and finding out the current leak rate. The mission was postponed for the fourth time on Wednesday evening. It will carry a four-member crew on a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft to the ISS. This includes Indian Air Force (IAF) pilot Shubhanshu Shukla, who is the mission pilot, Peggy Whitson, the mission commander, and mission specialists Sławosz Uznański and Tibor Kapu. The launch was initially scheduled for May 29. Speaking on the delay, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chairman V Narayanan said that a leakage had been detected in the propulsion bay.


NDTV
4 hours ago
- NDTV
Shubhanshu Shukla's Axiom Mission Postponed Due To Glitch At Space Station
New Delhi: A glitch on the International Space Station, where astronauts of the Axiom-4 mission would spend 14 days, has postponed the lift-off to space. Earlier, four postponements on the Axiom 4 mission were reported due to weather and technical problems on the Falcon 9 rocket. The glitch at the International Space Station, where NASA says "A pressure signature" on the Russian module has been noticed, is the next cause of the delay. What NASA Said "NASA and Axiom Space are postponing the launch of Axiom Mission 4 to the International Space Station. As part of an ongoing investigation, NASA is working with Roscosmos to understand a new pressure signature, after the recent post-repair effort in the aft most segment of the International Space Station's Zvezda service module," NASA said in a statement. "Cosmonauts aboard the space station recently performed inspections of the pressurized module's interior surfaces, sealed some additional areas of interest, and measured the current leak rate. Following this effort, the segment now is holding pressure. The postponement of Axiom Mission 4 provides additional time for NASA and Roscosmos to evaluate the situation and determine whether any additional troubleshooting is necessary. NASA defers to Roscosmos to answer specific questions about the Zvezda module," they said. "A new launch date for the fourth private astronaut mission will be provided once available." "Peggy Whitson, former NASA astronaut and director of human spaceflight at Axiom Space, will command the commercial mission, while ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla will serve as pilot. The two mission specialists are ESA (European Space Agency) project astronaut Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski of Poland and Tibor Kapu of Hungary." "The crew will lift off aboard the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft on Falcon 9 from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida," NASA said. Yesterday, the mission was deferred for the fourth time, due to a technical glitch in its Falcon 9 rocket that is being used for the launch. Fuel Leak Issue And ISRO It is unclear whether SpaceX resolved the fuel leak issue on the rocket or is still working to repair it. A leak of liquid oxygen (LoX) was detected, and SpaceX was working to fix it. ISRO had objected to the 'band-aid' like solution being offered by SpaceX. Indian space agency played a big role in making sure the launch is postponed till the oxygen leak is fixed on the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket to ISRO's full satisfaction. ISRO chairman Dr V Narayanan told NDTV, "He was happy with the decision to postpone flight on June 11, 2025, as human crew were involved and safety was paramount." The ISS has a contingent of seven global crew members onboard, with a Japanese astronaut as the commander of the station. The ISS is a football field-sized orbiting laboratory inhabited by humans continuously for the last 25 years. Axiom-4 Mission The Axiom-4 mission is a commercial space flight being spearheaded by a Houston-based private company, Axiom Space. India has purchased a seat on the Axiom-4 mission at the cost Rs 550 crores and so, India has a full stake in ensuring the safety of its own astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla and the other crew members from US, Hungary, and Poland he is piloting on a 14-day mission to the International Space Station (ISS). There are many opportunities till June 30 this year, when the Axiom-4 mission can still lift off, and further, there could be opportunities in the middle of July. Subsequently, the traffic to the International Space Station would be high.


Business Standard
4 hours ago
- Business Standard
Dr. S. Somanath Assumes Office as Chancellor of Chanakya University; Reconstituted Board of Governors Announced
India PR Distribution Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], June 12: Chanakya University marked a momentous occasion today as Dr. S. Somanath, Eminent Scientist and Former Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), officially assumed office as the Chancellor of Chanakya University on 12th June 2025. In his inaugural address, he laid out a bold and inspiring vision for the University's future, urging the academic community to go beyond conventional benchmarks and focus on shaping the character and competence of every student. He envisioned Chanakya University as a modern-day Nalanda or Takshashila--rooted in India's civilizational values and responsive to future challenges. Highlighting a critical structural gap, Dr. Somanath called attention to the disconnect between academia and industry. He emphasized that academic research must feed into the nation's economic growth and encouraged Chanakya University to take the lead in pioneering high-impact, industry-relevant innovation. He also spoke about the need to cultivate an ecosystem that naturally attracts top talent from around the world--a space where growth, innovation, and collaboration thrive, and where students aspire to be part of a larger mission. The event was graced by Founder Chancellor Prof. M. K. Sridhar, Pro-Chancellor Sri M. P. Kumar, Vice-Chancellor Prof. Yashavantha Dongre, Pro-Vice Chancellor Prof. H. S. Subramanya, Chief Operating Officer Sri Nagaraj Reddy, Registrar, Deans, Department Heads, Faculty, Staff, and Students--marking a transformative new chapter in the University's journey. The university also announced the reconstitution of its Board of Governors in accordance with the Chanakya University Act. Dr. Somanath will chair the newly formed Board, which includes a distinguished panel of leaders from academia and industry: - Prof. M.K. Sridhar, Padma Shri Awardee and President, Centre for Educational and Social Studies, Bengaluru - Sri M.P. Kumar, Pro Chancellor, Chanakya University, Ex-Officio -Prof. Yashavantha Dongre, Vice Chancellor, Chanakya University - Sri Kris Gopalakrishnan, Chairman, Axilor Ventures; Co-founder, Infosys - Sri T.V. Mohandas Pai, Chairman, Aarin Capital Partners - Dr. Shamika Ravi, Member, Prime Minister's Economic Advisory Council (UGC nominee) - Prof. B. Mahadevan, Former Professor, IIM Bangalore - Prof. Nandini N., Former Professor, Bangalore University - Sri Nagaraj Reddy, Secretary, Centre for Educational and Social Studies - Principal Secretary, Department of Higher Education, Government of Karnataka (Ex-Officio Member) - Prof. H.S. Subramanya, Pro Vice Chancellor, Chanakya University - Prof. Sushanth T Joshi, Registrar, Chanakya University This dynamic leadership team signals a bold new chapter for Chanakya University as it aspires to become a global hub of learning, innovation, and societal transformation--anchored in India's timeless civilisational values. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by India PR Distribution. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)