Who is Shubhanshu Shukla, the Indian astronaut on Axiom-4 mission awaits a new launch date?

Axiom-4 Mission Update: Postponed once again, the Axiom-4 mission which was set to mark India’s return to space after 41 years has been delayed due to a technical snag in SpaceX’s Falcon-9 rocket. The flight crew includes Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla of the Indian Air Force, who is poised to become the first Indian in space since Rakesh Sharma’s historic flight in 1984.

Originally scheduled for lift-off on June 10 and later pushed to June 11, the launch has now been delayed indefinitely after a liquid oxygen (LOX) leak was detected during a post-static fire inspection of the rocket boosters. SpaceX confirmed the delay, stating that the Falcon-9 will remain grounded pending repairs and further updates on range availability.

Who is Shubanshu Shukla? 

Shukla, who goes by the call sign ‘Shuks’, was born in Lucknow on October 10, 1985. A decorated Indian Air Force officer with over 2,000 flying hours on fighter jets like the Su-30 MKI and MiG-29, he was selected in 2019 as part of India’s first astronaut corps for the upcoming Gaganyaan mission, expected in 2027.

An alumnus of City Montessori School, Lucknow, and the National Defence Academy, Shukla holds an M.Tech in Aerospace Engineering from IISc Bengaluru. He underwent intensive astronaut training at Russia’s Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre and ISRO’s training facility in Bengaluru.

The Axiom-4 mission

Veteran NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson commands the Axiom-4 crew with Shukla as the pilot and mission specialists Tibor Kapu from Hungary and Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski from Poland. Launching from Kennedy Space Center in Florida for a period of 14 days, the mission, under Axiom Space, is a commercial venture to the ISS.

During the mission, Shukla will be engaging in state-of-the-art research in the area of space nutrition and microgravity agriculture, including trials involving sprouting Indian staples like methi (fenugreek) and moong (green gram) in space. These investigations are envisaged through a joint effort of ISRO, DBT, and NASA, intending the establishment of sustainable life-support systems for future deep-space missions. 

Shukla will also jointly perform five NASA human research studies, and during the mission, he will interact with the Prime Minister Narndra Modi, students in India, and leaders in the space industry.

A moment of pride for India

Shukla’s upcoming journey is not just personal — it’s symbolic. “This is not just my journey; this is the journey of 1.4 billion Indians,” he said before the now-delayed launch, PTI reported. His alma mater in Lucknow has planned a public watch party, with hoardings across the city celebrating his achievement.

For a generation that has never seen an Indian astronaut in space, Shukla represents renewed hope. His participation in the Axiom-4 mission is also being seen as a precursor to **India’s independent human spaceflight under Gaganyaan, where his experience will be crucial. With ISRO investing over Rs 550 crore in the mission, Shukla is not only carrying payloads — he’s carrying the aspirations of a nation.