Wing Commander Shubhanshu Shukla has been chosen as the primary astronaut for the upcoming Indo-US mission to the International Space Station (ISS). On August 2, ISRO announced that its Human Space Flight Centre has finalised a space flight agreement with Axiom Space Inc., USA, for the Axiom-4 mission to the ISS. 

The National Mission Assignment Board has recommended Wing Commander Shubhanshu Shukla as the prime gaganyaatri and Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair as the backup gaganyaatri for the mission. 

ISRO stated that the final approval for the assigned crewmembers to fly to the International Space Station will be given by the Multilateral Crew Operations Panel (MCOP). The recommended gaganyaatris are scheduled to begin their mission training in the first week of August 2024. During the mission, the gaganyaatris will perform selected scientific research and technology demonstration experiments aboard the ISS, in addition to participating in space outreach activities. 

Wing Commander Shubhanshu Shukla, from Lucknow and an alumnus of City Montessori School in Aliganj, was commissioned as a fighter pilot in 2006. With over 16 years of service and more than 2,000 flying hours, Shubanshu—affectionately known as Gunjan—is the youngest of three siblings and the first in his family to join the armed forces. He is also a father to a four-year-old son, and his family views this achievement as a significant milestone. 

Shubanshu was commissioned into the Indian Air Force on June 17, 2006, and describes his career as a “rollercoaster ride.” He has distinguished himself as a fighter combat leader and test pilot, with experience in a range of aircraft including the Su-30MKI, MiG-21, MiG-29, Jaguar, and Hawk. 

On February 27, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced Shubanshu’s selection, along with three other astronauts, for the Gaganyaan mission at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre in Thiruvananthapuram. The four will participate in ISRO’s first crewed space mission to low Earth orbit. 

Gaganyaan, India’s first human spaceflight mission, is scheduled for launch in 2025. The mission aims to send a manned crew on a three-day journey to orbit 400 km above Earth before returning. 

Last week in Lok Sabha, Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh announced that ISRO has teamed up with NASA and Axiom Space for this collaborative effort. "This is a joint mission involving ISRO, NASA, and the NASA-identified private entity Axiom Space. ISRO has recently signed a Space Flight Agreement with Axiom Space for this mission to the ISS," he stated. 

The astronauts have already finished basic spaceflight training in Russia and are now engaged in advanced training at ISRO’s Astronaut Training Facility (ATF) in Bengaluru. 

Image Source: India Blooms