Shubhanshu Shukla Set to Become Second Indian in Space; Command Axiom-4 Private Spacecraft

New Delhi: Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is poised to make history as the second Indian to travel to space, following in the footsteps of Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma, who made his journey aboard Soyuz T-11 in April 1984.

Shukla will serve as the pilot for the upcoming Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4), which is set to launch this spring from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The mission will head to the International Space Station (ISS), Axiom Space announced on Thursday.

Currently serving in the Indian Air Force (IAF), Shukla has also been selected as an astronaut for India’s Gaganyaan Mission, as part of the Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) space program. ISRO has sent Shukla to NASA for training ahead of his participation in the Ax-4 mission.

The mission will be commanded by Peggy Whitson, a former NASA astronaut and current director of human spaceflight at Axiom Space, while Shukla will serve as the pilot.

Speaking to reporters, Shukla expressed his excitement about the upcoming mission. “I am really excited to go into microgravity and experience space flight on my own. The tempo for the mission has been building up each month, and I think we are at a stage where all the pieces are coming together. I’m extremely excited to see how this unfolds in the coming months,” he said.

In addition to his mission duties, Shukla is also planning to do yoga in space, further showcasing his enthusiasm for the unique experience.