Who is Shubhanshu Shukla? Know About His Life, Career and Missions

Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is a test pilot in the Indian Air Force and one of the astronauts selected by ISRO for India’s first human spaceflight. Nicknamed ”Shux,” he is known for his dedication, courage and passion for flying. He will become the second Indian to go into space and the first to visit the International Space Station (ISS).

Shubhanshu Shukla – Early Life and Education

Shubhanshu Shukla was born and raised in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. He studied at City Montessori School, Aliganj. He was inspired to join the armed forces after watching the Kargil War in 1999. With determination, he passed the UPSC NDA exam without any coaching and joined the National Defence Academy. He completed a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science in 2005.

Air Force Career of Shubhanshu Shukla

After completing his training at the Indian Air Force Academy, he became a Flying Officer in 2006. He flew various fighter aircraft like the Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, MiG-29 and Jaguars. He is a skilled pilot with over 2,000 hours of flying experience. He is also trained to test new aircraft and systems for the Air Force.

Becoming an ISRO Astronaut

In 2019, Shukla was selected for India’s space program by the Institute of Aerospace Medicine. He was among the final four chosen to become astronauts. In 2020, he went to Russia for basic space training and completed it in 2021. He also earned a Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering from IISc Bangalore. On 27 February 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi officially announced his name as one of the astronauts for India’s space mission.

Axiom Mission 4

Shukla has been chosen as the pilot for Axiom Mission 4 to the International Space Station. This mission includes astronauts from NASA, ISRO and other countries. His teammates include Peggy Whitson (Commander), Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski and Tibor Kapu (Mission Specialist). Fellow Indian astronaut Prasanth Nair is the backup, Shukla is the first Indian to visit the ISS and the second Indian in space after Rakesh Sharma. The mission cost is around Rs.500 crore.

Personal Life of Shubhanshu Shukla

Shubhanshu Shukla is married to Dr. Kamna Mishra, his childhood friend and a dentist. They have a son. His father, Shambhu Dayal Shukla, is a retired government officer and his mother, Asha Shukla, is a homemaker. He has two elder sisters – one is a teacher and the other holds an MBA.

Hobbies and Interests of Shubhanshu Shukla

In his free time, Shukla enjoys exercise, reading science books and taking astrophotography pictures. Although he calls himself agnostic, he has recently developed a curiosity for reading horoscopes.