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Who is Shubhanshu Shukla? IAF officer set to take India to International Space Station For First Time
As part of a collaboration between nasa and the indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), Shubhanshu Shukla has been assigned as the pilot of the Axiom Mission 4 to the ISS. "No earlier than spring 2025" is when the voyage will launch, according to a thursday announcement from the US space agency.
In june 2006, Shubhanshu Shukla received his commission in the IAF jet wing. According to the Axiom website, Shubhanshu Shukla is a combat leader and seasoned test pilot with 2,000 hours of flight experience in a variety of aircraft, including the Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, MiG-29, Jaguar, Hawk, Dornier, and An-32.
In march 2024, Shubhanshu Shukla was elevated to the position of group captain. Shubhanshu Shukla is also the astronaut-designate for the Gaganyaan mission, India's maiden human space journey.
According to the Axiom website, Shubhanshu Shukla "received a momentous call from ISRO" in 2019 and then starting "rigorous training at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Moscow, Russia-a year-long preparation that would shape his destiny."
As part of the Soviet Interkosmos program, Rakesh Sharma became the first indian to fly to space in 1984 on the Soyuz T-11 mission, which was then operated by the USSR.
Ax-4 will be the first time all three countries have conducted a mission aboard the ISS, even though it is these countries' second human spaceflight mission in history.
"This historic mission underscores how Axiom Space is redefining the pathway to low-Earth orbit and elevating national space programs globally," according to the website.
According to nasa, the astronauts will execute a mission that includes outreach, scientific, and commercial operations during their 14-day stay in orbit.