19/07/2025
Most expensive journey 😀
Shubhanshu Shukla is a decorated Indian Air Force officer and test pilot who made history by becoming the first Indian astronaut to visit the International Space Station (ISS). Here's what we know about him ¹ ²:
- *Early Life and Career*: Although specific details about his early life are limited, it's known that Shubhanshu Shukla is from Lucknow and has had a distinguished career in the Indian Air Force as a group captain and test pilot.
- *Astronaut Training*: He was introduced as a member of the astronaut team for India's first human spaceflight mission in February 2024 and trained at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Russia.
- *Axiom Mission 4*: Shukla flew to the ISS as part of the Axiom Mission 4, a privately organized mission, on June 25, 2025. He was accompanied by commander Peggy Whitson and mission specialists Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski of Poland and Tibor Kapu of Hungary.
- *Mission Highlights*: During his 14-day mission, Shukla conducted seven India-specific experiments and interacted with students. He became the second Indian in space, after Rakesh Sharma, who flew aboard a Soviet Soyuz spacecraft in 1984.
- *Return to Earth*: Shubhanshu Shukla returned to Earth on July 15, 2025, after his Dragon spacecraft splashed down off the California coast.
Shukla's achievement marks a significant milestone for India's space program, particularly the Gaganyaan human spaceflight program. He's also slated to participate in India's upcoming Gaganyaan mission ³ ⁴.