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{{#seo:
|keywords=Shubhanshu Shukla, Shubhanshu Shukla Wikipedia, Shux, Indian astronaut, Axiom Mission 4, Shubhanshu Shukla biography, ISRO astronaut
|description=Shubhanshu Shukla, nicknamed Shux, is an Indian Air Force Group Captain, test pilot, and ISRO astronaut, known for being the first Indian to visit the International Space Station on the Axiom Mission 4.
|image=Shubhanshu shukla.png
|image_alt=Shubhanshu Shukla Image
}}
{{Infobox astronaut
| name = Shubhanshu Shukla
| image = Shubhanshu shukla.png
| caption = Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla in 2025
| type = ISRO astronaut
| nationality = Indian
| status = Active
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1985|10|10|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
| occupation = {{hlist|Astronaut|Test pilot}}
| rank = [[File:Indian IAF OF-5.svg|20px]] Group Captain
| space_time = {{time in space|2025-06-25 06:31|00|00|00|refresh=yes}}
| selection = 1st Vyomanaut Group (2019)
| missions = Axiom Mission 4
| insignia = 
| module = {{Infobox military person| embed = yes
| allegiance = {{flag|India}}
| nickname = "Shux"
| branch = {{air force|India}}
| rank = Group Captain
| serviceyears = 2006–present
| servicenumber = 29014
| spouse = Kamna Shubha Shukla
| children = 1
}}
| alma_mater = {{ubl
|Jawaharlal Nehru University (Bachelor of Science)
|National Defence Academy
|Indian Air Force Academy
|IISc Bangalore M.Tech
}}
}}

'''Group Captain''' '''Shubhanshu Shukla''' (born 10 October 1985), nicknamed '''Shux''',is an [[Indian Air Force|'''Indian Air Force''']] '''test pilot''' and '''ISRO astronaut'''. He is one of four astronauts selected for the Indian Human Spaceflight Programme and is the first Indian astronaut to visit the International Space Station (ISS) as part of the Axiom Mission 4.<ref>https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/science/indias-shux-heads-to-space-astronaut-shubhanshu-shukla-calls-axiom-4-mission-larger-than-self/articleshow/121707977.cms</ref>

== Early life and education ==
Shubhanshu Shukla was born on 10 October 1985 in '''Lucknow''', '''Uttar Pradesh''', [[India]]. He completed his schooling at City Montessori School, Aliganj. Motivated by the 1999 Kargil War, Shukla independently applied for and passed the UPSC NDA examination. He graduated from the National Defence Academy in 2005 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science. Subsequently, he trained at the Indian Air Force Academy and was commissioned into the Fighter stream of the Indian Air Force as a Flying officer in June 2006. He later earned a M.Tech in Aerospace Engineering from the IISc Bangalore.<ref>https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/lucknow-lad-shubhanshu-shukla-named-for-gaganyaan-mission/articleshow/108057887.cms</ref><ref>https://www.axiomspace.com/astronaut/shubhanshu-shukla</ref>

== Indian Air Force career ==
Shukla is a combat leader and experienced test pilot with approximately 2,000 hours of flight time across various aircraft, including the Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, MiG-29, Jaguar, Hawk, Dornier 228, and An-32.<ref>https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/gaganyaan-astronauts-the-chosen-four/article67908298.ece</ref>

== ISRO astronaut career ==
=== Training ===
In 2019, Shukla was selected by the Institute of Aerospace Medicine (IAM), under the Indian Air Force, for the Indian Human Spaceflight Programme. He was one of four astronauts shortlisted by IAM and ISRO. In 2020, he underwent basic astronaut training at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Russia, completing it in 2021. Upon returning to India, he continued training at the Astronaut Training Facility in Bangalore. During this period, he completed his M.Tech in Aerospace Engineering from IISc Bangalore.<ref>https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/nair-prathap-krishnan-and-chauhan-listed-for-gaganyaan-mission/articleshow/108022351.cms</ref>

On 27 February 2024, Prime Minister [[Narendra Modi]] publicly announced Shukla as one of the astronaut team members for the Gaganyaan mission during an event at ISRO's Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre in Thiruvananthapuram.

=== Axiom Mission 4 ===
Shukla is currently serving as the pilot for '''Axiom Mission 4''', which launched to the International Space Station on 25 June 2025. The mission, a collaboration between NASA, SpaceX, and ISRO, includes commander '''Peggy Whitson''', mission specialists '''Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski''', and '''Tibor Kapu'''. ISRO astronaut '''Prasanth Nair''' serves as the backup crew member. Shukla and Nair trained at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. As the first Indian astronaut to visit the ISS and the second Indian to reach orbit after Rakesh Sharma, Shukla’s mission is a milestone for India’s space program. The cost of his seat is estimated at approximately $60 million (₹500 crore).<ref>https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/axiom-4-shubhanshu-shukla-axiom-4-indian-astronaut-will-pilot-mission-to-international-space-station-axiom-space-6982303</ref><ref>https://www.axiomspace.com/missions/ax4</ref><ref>https://www.axiomspace.com/news/axiomspace-pam-missions</ref>
{{Quote box
 | quote  = What a ride! '''Namaskar mere pyare Deshvasiyo'''. What a ride! We’ve returned to space after 40 years and it was a fantastic ride. Right now, we are orbiting Earth at a velocity of about 7.5 km/sec. I have my Flag of India on my shoulder which tells me that I am not alone and that I am with all of you. This is not the beginning of my journey to the ISS but the beginning of India’s human spaceflight programme. I want all Indians to be part of this journey. All your chests must swell in pride and must be as excited. Let’s begin India’s human spaceflight journey together. Jai Hind. Jai Bharat.
 | source = [https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/new-updates/shubhanshu-shuklas-first-words-from-spacexs-falcon-9-rocket-after-lift-off-jai-hind-jai-bharat/articleshow/122063559.cms “Jai Hind, Jai Bharat: Shubhanshu Shukla’s first words…” — *Economic Times*, 25 June 2025]
 | align  = right
 | width  = 40%
 | style  = font-size:80%;
}}

== Personal life ==
Shukla is married to '''Dr. Kamna Mishra''', a dentist and his former school classmate. They have one son. His father, '''Shambhu Dayal Shukla''', is a retired government officer, and his mother, '''Asha Shukla''', is a homemaker. He is the youngest of three siblings; his elder sister, '''Nidhi''', holds an MBA, and his other elder sister, '''Suchi Mishra''', is a school teacher.

Shukla enjoys physical exercise, reading science-related books, and has recently developed an interest in horoscopes, despite identifying as an agnostic. He is also passionate about astrophotography.<ref>https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/lucknow-lad-shubhanshu-shukla-named-for-gaganyaan-mission/articleshow/108057887.cms</ref>
== References ==
{{reflist}}

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[[Category:Indian]]