India is preparing for its first human spacecraft mission, Gaganyaan, which is to be launched in 2025. The mission will have four astronauts, all experienced Indian Air Force (IAF) pilots, who have been trained for this historic visit. One of them is the group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla. Born on October 10, 1985 in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, Shukla is a skilled fighter pilot, who has a flight experience over 2,000 hours. He joined the IAF in 2006 and became a Test pilot, mastering various aircraft such as SU-30 MKI, MIG-21 and Jaguar. In 2019, he was selected for astronaut training and made strict preparations at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonott Training Center in Russia.
In addition to Gaganyaan, Shukla was selected to pilot the Ex-Space Station (ISS) in 2024 to pilot the Ex-4 (X-4). This will make them the first Indian astronaut to visit ISS, which will prove to be a major milestone in India’s space trip. However, due to some technical problems in Falcon 9 of SpaceX, the mission was postponed from June 10, 2025 to another date. The Axiom-4 mission was successfully launched on 25 June 2025, which included Shubhanshu Shukla Mission Pilot, a historic moment for India in the human space flight. Shukla, Commander Paigi Whitson and two other expert SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and dragon rode in spacecraft and left for the International Space Station.
Who is Shubhanshu Shukla? Learn about their age, education and career
Shubhanshu Shukla is a prestigious Indian Air Force officer and astronaut, known for his remarkable achievements in aviation and space exploration. Here is the observation of his life, education and career:
Early life and education
Birth: Shubhanshu Shukla was born on 10 October 1985 in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.
School Education: He studied at City Montessori School, Lucknow, where he showed deep interest in educational excellence and technology and aviation.
Higher Education: Shukla graduated from National Defense Academy (NDA), Pune, obtained a degree of Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech.). He later studied Master of Technology at Indian Institute of Science (IISC), Bangalore.
career
Indian Air Force Career: In June 2006, a commission in the fighter wing of IAF, Shukla has gained more than 2,000 hours of flight experience on various aircraft including SU-30 MKI, MIG-21, MIG-29, Jaguar, Hawk, Dornier and AN-32.
Rank: He was promoted to the post of Group Captain in March 2024.
Astronaut Career: In 2019, Shukla was chosen as one of the astronauts for the Gaganyaan Mission of India. He underwent strict training at Yuri Gagarin Cosmonot Training Center in Russia.
In the Ex -Mission 4: 2024, he was selected as a pilot for the Axiam Mission 4, a joint mission with Axiom Space, NASA and SpaceX, making them the first Indian astronauts to visit the international space station.
Achievements
The first Indian to visit ISS: Shukla is the first Indian astronaut to travel to the International Space Station as part of the Axiom Mission 4. Gaganyaan Mission: He is also an astronaut-manner for Gaganyaan, the first human spacecraft mission of India prescribed for 2026.
What is Gaganyaan Mission? Whatever you should know
Gaganyaan Mission is India’s ambitious human spacecraft program that aims to send a team of three astronauts to the Low Earth Orbit (LEO) for a short period. Here’s the observation of the mission is given:
1. Mission’s objectives
Primary target: The primary objective of the mission is to demonstrate India’s indigenous ability to mission the human spacecraft in Leo. Long -term vision: Its purpose is to lay the foundation of a continuous Indian human space exploration program, including the Moon and beyond missions in the future.
2. Main features
Design of spacecraft: Gaganyaan spacecraft consists of two main modules: crew modules (CM) and service modules (SM). The CM is designed to carry three astronauts, while SM provides propulsion and strength. Launch vehicle: The spacecraft will be launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Center using the modified version of India’s launch vehicle Mark III (LVM3), human-rated launch vehicle (HRLV). Mission period: Initially a 5-7-day mission was planned, the current plan is a 3-day mission with the crew of three astronauts.
3. Importance
Scientific Research: This mission will facilitate scientific experiments in subtle gravity, which will contribute to progress in medical, physics and biology. International Cooperation: Success in this mission will open opportunities for international cooperation and India’s position as a country traveling in space will be strengthened. Economic Impact: Economic development is expected to be promoted through the development and employment generation of space -related industries.
Gaganyaan Mission: List of launch date, time, astronauts list
The first manned Gaganyaan Mission, India’s first manned space flight program, currently planned in the end of 2026 or early 2027, the number of unmanned test flights starting in 2025 after a series.
Here is more detailed description:
Gaganyaan-1 (unmanned test Flight 1): Possibly planned for March 2025.
Gaganyaan-2 (unmanned test Flight 2): Planned for the first half of 2025.
Gaganyaan-3 (unmanned test Flight 3): Planned for the second half of 2025.
Gaganyaan-4 (unmanned flight): It is expected to be launched in the end of 2026 or early 2027.
ISRO’s commitment: ISRO is giving priority to safety and success, due to which the revised time -outlines and a cautious approach to human space flight are being adopted. Mission’s goals: The aim of Gaganyaan Mission is to demonstrate India’s human space flight capacity by sending three people to the 400 -km low Earth’s orbit for the three -day mission. India’s space ambitions: If successful, India will become the fourth country to operate independent human space flight after the Soviet Union, the United States and China. Future plans: After the first manned flight, ISRO intends to launch a space station program, manned lunar landing and manned intergraginal mission.
List of astronauts
There are four astronauts selected for Gaganyaan Mission:
Group Captain Prashant Balakrishnan Nair Group Captain Ajit Krishnan Group Captain Angad Pratap Wing Commander Shubhanshu Shukla
These astronauts have taken extensive training and are ready for their role in this historic mission, which aims to display India’s human space flight capabilities by sending a crew into the lower class of Earth for a three -day mission.
What are the main objectives of Gaganyaan Mission?
Demonstration of human space flight capacity: The primary goal is to demonstrate India’s indigenous ability to send humans to the lower orbit of the Earth and safely bring them back to Earth. Development of important technologies: This involves developing human-rated launch vehicles, life-saving systems and the development system of the crew required for human space flight. Covery team training and protocol: It is important for the success of future human space missions of the crew training, recovery and rehabilitation. Long -term space exploration: This mission lays the foundation of a continuous Indian human space exploration program, which will potentially lead to the Moon and beyond Missions in the future. Scientific research and advancement: This mission will facilitate scientific experiments in microscopic gravity, which will contribute to progress in areas such as medical, matter science and biology.
How will the Gaganyaan Mission benefit India’s space program?
Gaganyaan Mission is ready to significantly benefit India’s space program in many ways:
1. Technical advancement
Human Space Flight Capacity: This mission will showcase India’s indigenous ability to carry out human space flight missions, making it into a specific group of countries with this capacity. Development of important technologies: This involves developing human-rated launch vehicles, life saving systems and crew’s escape system, which are essential for constant human space flight activities in the future.
2. Economic and Industrial Development
Promotion of industries: Mission is expected to receive about 60% of equipment from the Indian private sector, which will provide major opportunities for domestic industries and increase industrial capabilities. Employment opportunities: This is estimated to create about 15,000 new employment opportunities, which will contribute to economic development through human resource development.
3. Scientific Research and Cooperation
Research opportunities: This mission will facilitate scientific experiments in microscopic gravity, which will contribute to progressing in areas such as material processing, astronomy and planetary chemistry. International Cooperation: Success in this mission will strengthen international participation and increase India’s role in global space exploration.
4. Inspiration and education
Inspiration to the youth: This mission is expected to motivate a large number of young students to make a career in science and technology and contribute to national development.
5. Reputation and diplomatic effects
Global reputation: This mission will increase India’s global status and diplomatic influence, which will establish it as a prominent player in the space industry.
