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Shubhanshu Shukla, a Group Captain in the Indian Air Force, has etched his name in history by becoming the second Indian to travel to space, after Rakesh Sharma. Coming from a humble, middle-class family in Lucknow, Shubhanshu's journey from a determined schoolboy to an astronaut is nothing short of inspiring.
Born in 1985, Shubhanshu grew up in Aliganj. His father is a retired government officer, and his mother is a homemaker. Youngest among three siblings and the only son, Shubhanshu was initially met with reluctance from his parents when he expressed a desire to join the armed forces. However, undeterred, he secretly applied for the National Defence Academy (NDA) through a friend—coincidentally, the entrance exam was on the same day as his sister’s wedding. Choosing duty over tradition, he quietly left to write the exam and revealed his decision only after qualifying.
After completing a BSc in Computer Science from NDA, Shubhanshu joined the Indian Air Force under the fighter stream. Over the years, he gained over 2,000 hours of flying experience as a combat leader and test pilot on aircraft including the Sukhoi, MiG, Jaguar, Hawk, Dornier, and AN-32.
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To enhance his technical expertise, he pursued an M.Tech in Aerospace Engineering from IISc Bengaluru. In 2019, he was selected by ISRO and subsequently trained in Russia for the Gaganyaan mission. In March 2024, he was promoted from Wing Commander to Group Captain.
Today, as the pilot of the Axiom-4 mission, his official call sign is ‘Sux’. Following the historic launch, President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended their congratulations. The Indian Air Force also lauded his achievement, while Union Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh celebrated the occasion by distributing sweets and expressing national pride.
Shubhanshu Shukla’s story is a shining example of perseverance, courage, and dedication—an inspiration for millions across India.
