Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, aka Shux born on October 10, 1985, in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, is poised to become the first Indian astronaut to visit the International Space Station (ISS) as the pilot of Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4). This mission, scheduled for launch in June 2025, marks a significant milestone in India’s space exploration journey, coming four decades after Rakesh Sharma’s historic flight.
Early Life and Education
Shukla’s formative years were spent at City Montessori School (CMS), Aliganj Campus, in Lucknow. The institution’s emphasis on academic excellence, moral values, and global citizenship played a pivotal role in shaping his aspirations. Inspired by the Kargil War in 1998, Shukla decided to pursue a career in the armed forces. Without informing his family, he applied for and cleared the UPSC NDA examination. He subsequently completed his Bachelor of Science in Computer Science at the National Defence Academy in 2005, followed by flying training at the Indian Air Force Academy, where he was commissioned into the fighter stream in 2006.
Indian Air Force and Astronaut Career
As a seasoned test pilot and combat leader in the Indian Air Force, Shukla has amassed approximately 2,000 hours of flying experience across various aircraft, including the Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, MiG-29, Jaguar, Hawk, Dornier 228, and An-32.
In 2019, Shukla was selected as one of the four astronaut candidates for India’s Gaganyaan mission, undergoing rigorous training at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Russia and the Astronaut Training Facility in Bangalore. He also earned a Master of Technology degree in Aerospace Engineering from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore.
Axiom Mission 4
Shukla’s upcoming role as the pilot of Ax-4 involves a collaborative mission between NASA, SpaceX, ISRO, and Axiom Space. The mission aims to advance international spaceflight cooperation and includes scientific research, educational outreach, and cultural demonstrations aboard the ISS.
Personal Life
Shux is married to Dr. Kamna, a dentist, and they have a four-year-old son. His father, Shambhu Dayal Shukla, is a retired government officer, and his mother, Asha Shukla, is a homemaker. He is the youngest of three siblings.
The CMS Impact
Reflecting on his journey, Shux credits City Montessori School for laying the foundation of his success. The school’s holistic approach to education, fostering both academic prowess and moral integrity, instilled in him the values of discipline, perseverance, and global responsibility. CMS’s emphasis on nurturing future leaders equipped him with the skills and mindset necessary to excel in the demanding realms of aviation and space exploration.
As Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla prepares to embark on this historic mission, his story serves as an inspiration to countless students, demonstrating that with determination, rigorous training, and a strong educational foundation, the sky is not the limit—it’s just the beginning.