Shubhanshu Shukla: Taking India’s Space Dreams from Runway to Orbit

Image Source: Punjab Kesari

India’s space program is about to hit a major milestone, and it’s all thanks to Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, a 39-year-old fighter pilot from the Indian Air Force. Next week, he’s set to become the first Indian to visit the International Space Station (ISS) and only the second Indian ever to go to space after Rakesh Sharma’s famous mission back in 1984.

Here’s what’s happening:

Shukla will join an international crew of four on Axiom Mission 4, launching June 10 from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The mission uses a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule and is a joint effort between NASA, ISRO, and Axiom Space.
This isn’t just a personal achievement. Shukla’s trip is a big step for India’s space program, especially as the country gears up for its own human spaceflight mission, Gaganyaan, planned for 2027. The experience he gains on the ISS will be invaluable for that project and for India’s future in space.
Shukla is a seasoned test pilot with more than 2,000 flying hours on jets like the Su-30 MKI and MiG-29. He’s trained in Russia and at ISRO’s Bengaluru facility, so he’s well-prepared for the challenges ahead.

The Indian government is investing heavily in these efforts, with Prime Minister Modi setting ambitious goals like sending an Indian to the Moon by 2040 and building a space station by 2035.

Shukla’s mission will last about two weeks, during which he’ll conduct experiments and bring back knowledge that could shape India’s next steps in space.

Source: Phys.org, Times of India, Gulf News, BBC, Eurasian Times