“Shux” Soars to the Heavens – by Ritwaj Ranjan, India Space News Contributor – – Photo: Axiom Space — Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla — affectionately “Shux” — is poised to become a household name in India and beyond. Shukla’s journey began with his early fascination for aircraft, inspired by air shows and his schooling at City Montessori School in Lucknow.  

Born on October 10, 1985, in Lucknow, this Indian Air Force (IAF) test pilot has embarked on a remarkable path: from a childhood inspired by the Kargil War to being selected as both a Gaganyaan astronaut and the pilot of Axiom Mission 4 (Ax‑4) to the International Space Station (ISS). 

Shukla honed his academic and military foundations at City Montessori School, Aliganj, Lucknow, before quietly applying to the NDA — even skipping his sister’s wedding to sit that exam — driven by ambition rooted in duty and inspired by the valor of 1999 Kargil heroes.

He joined the Indian Air Force (IAF) after graduating from the National Defence Academy (NDA) in 2005 with a BSc in Computer Science in 2005, and completed M.Tech in Aerospace Engineering from IISc Bangalore while undertaking astronaut training  and the Air Force Academy in 2006. As a test pilot, he logged over 2,000 flying hours on various aircraft, including the Su-30 MKI and MiG-29, and rose to the rank of Group Captain by 2024. 

Indian Air Force Career

Commissioned into the IAF fighter stream in June 2006, Shukla earned the rank of Group Captain by March 2024 — a testament to his prowess. With over 2,000 hours logged on aircraft such as Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, MiG-29, Jaguar, Hawk, Dornier, and An‑32, he is recognized as a combat leader and ace test pilot.

Astronaut Journey

In 2019, Shukla was selected as one of four astronauts in ISRO’s inaugural Vyomanaut Group, embarking on astronaut training in Russia’s Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center 2020–21) and later at ISRO’s Bengaluru facility . The official announcement came from PM Modi on 27 February 2024 at VSSC Thiruvananthapuram. His historic call-up as chief pilot for Axiom Mission 4, a civilian mission facilitated by SpaceX–Axiom–NASA in collaboration with ISRO, positions him to be the first Indian on the ISS — and the second Indian in space after Rakesh Sharma.

Ax-4 Mission Highlights: The Ax-4 mission is set to launch aboard SpaceX Falcon 9 and Dragon from Florida, aiming for an ISS docking on June 11, 2025, with a mission duration of approximately 14 days. The crew includes Commander Peggy Whitson from the USA, and mission specialists Sławosz Uznański‑Wiśniewski from Poland and Tibor Kapu from Hungary, with Prasanth Nair from ISRO as backup. The mission will conduct up to 60 research activities from 31 nations, focusing on life sciences, microgravity nutrition, materials science, Earth observation, and space technology, marking India’s space resurgence after 41 years.

Personal Life & Character.

Shukla is married to Dr. Kamna Shubha Shukla, a dentist and his schoolmate; the couple have one son. Proudly the youngest among three siblings, his sisters Nidhi and Suchi have expressed admiration for his discipline and quiet dedication . He enjoys fitness, reading science literature, astrophotography, and while agnostic, recently embraced an interest in horoscopes.

Significance & Legacy.

Team India regards Shukla not just as an astronaut but as a symbol of aspiration and perseverance. His journey underlines a new phase in India’s space ambitions — national confidence fused with global mission engagement. Whether through his composed leadership in the Dragon crew or his quiet grit during NDA exams, Shubhanshu “Shux” Shukla embodies the ambitions of 1.4 billion. Stay tuned for launch updates — India’s tricolor is about to paint the canvas of Low Earth Orbit (LEO), led by a son of Lucknow. 

Ad Astra Per Espera Captain Shukla!

— Ritwaj Ranjan

About the Author.

Ritwaj Ranjan, a full-stack web and mobile applications software engineer from Bangalore, India, joined Interplanetary Television in May 2025. With a strong foundation in frontend and backend development technologies, he has worked at Othor.ai and Bhopal. He has designed and deployed over 20 user-centric interfaces with React.js, resulting in a 30% increase in customer satisfaction scores. Ranjan has also led a team in website development, resulting in a 40% increase in client customization efficiency.