Who is Shubhanshu Shukla?
Shubhanshu Shukla is the second Indian to go to space (after Rakesh Sharma in 1984). And, he’s the first Indian to visit the International Space Station.
India’s Second Astronaut in Space!
From Lucknow to the Stars
Shubhanshu Shukla was born in Lucknow, India, in 1985. Like many other kids, he was curious, hard-working, and full of dreams. He attended City Montessori School and later joined the National Defence Academy (NDA), where students train to become officers in the Indian military.
Shubhanshu then became a fighter pilot in the Indian Air Force. He flew jets like the Su-30 and MiG-29 and earned the rank of Group Captain. He also studied Aerospace Engineering and learned how to test and fly many types of aircraft.
How Did He Become an Astronaut?
In 2019, India started picking pilots for a special mission, Gaganyaan, India’s first human spaceflight program. Shubhanshu was one of only four people chosen after tough tests by ISRO (India’s space agency) and the Air Force’s doctors and scientists.
He trained in Russia to learn how to live and work in space, and also trained at ISRO’s astronaut centre in Bengaluru.
In 2024, the Prime Minister of India announced that Shubhanshu was one of India’s official astronauts.
Then came even bigger news…
The Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4)
Before India’s rockets were ready, Shubhanshu got a rare chance to go to space early!
He was chosen as the pilot for Axiom Mission 4, a mission organised by NASA, ISRO, SpaceX, and a company called Axiom Space.
- On June 25, 2025, he flew on a SpaceX rocket from NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre in Florida.
- On June 26, he reached the International Space Station (ISS)—the big space lab that orbits Earth.
- He is the first Indian astronaut to live and work on the ISS.
- He will stay in space for 2 weeks, helping scientists from all over the world.
What Is He Doing in Space?
Shubhanshu is doing over 60 science experiments in space! Here are a few cool ones:
- Studying how Indian seeds grow in space (like moong and methi).
- Learning how medicines behave without gravity.
- Helping test technology for India’s future space missions.
He even brought Indian food with him, like gajar ka halwa and mango juice.
Why Is This So Special?
- Shubhanshu is the second Indian to go to space (after Rakesh Sharma in 1984).
- He is the first Indian to visit the International Space Station.
- His journey is helping India prepare for its astronauts to fly soon on Indian rockets through the Gaganyaan mission.
Remembering Rakesh Sharma – India’s First
- Born January 13, 1949, in Patiala, Sharma joined the NDA in 1966 and the IAF in 1970
- Selected in 1982 for the Soviet Interkosmos program. He flew aboard Soyuz T‑11 and spent 7 days, 21 hours on Salyut 7 in April 1984
- Famous for saying, “Saare Jahan Se Accha” when asked how India looked from space
Quick FAQs and Facts
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Who was the first Indian in space? | Rakesh Sharma, in 1984, on a Soviet rocket. |
| Who is the second Indian in space? | Shubhanshu Shukla, in 2025, on a SpaceX rocket. |
| What is he doing now? | Living on the ISS and doing science experiments. |
| What mission is he on? | Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) with NASA, SpaceX, ISRO, and Axiom Space. |
| How long will he stay in space? | Around 14 days. |
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