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With over 2,000 flying hours, Shubhanshu Shukla has operated aircraft such as the Su-30MKI, MiG-21, MiG-29, Jaguar, and Hawk.
Shubhanshu Shukla completed his schooling at City Montessori School (CMS) in Lucknow. (File)
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, one of India’s Gaganyaan astronauts, is set to embark on a 14-day mission to the International Space Station. This Axiom-4 commercial mission is led by Commander Peggy Whitson, with Shukla serving as the mission pilot, and Hungarian astronaut Tibor Kapu along with Polish astronaut Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski as mission specialists.
For Shubhanshu Shukla, this mission is a significant step towards India’s goal of landing an Indian on the Moon by 2040. Here is a glimpse of the Group Captain’s educational background:
Born on October 10, 1985, in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, he did his schooling at City Montessori School (CMS), Aliganj Campus, in Lucknow, He had secretly applied for the Union Public Service Commission’s NDA exam, which is passed successfully. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from the National Defence Academy in 2005. He also pursued an MTech in Aerospace Engineering from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru.
Shukla was inducted into the Indian Air Force as a fighter pilot on June 17, 2006. Known by the nickname “Gunjan,” he is the youngest of three siblings and the first in his family to join the armed forces.
With over 2,000 flying hours, Shukla has operated aircraft such as the Su-30MKI, MiG-21, MiG-29, Jaguar, and Hawk. He advanced to roles of test pilot and Fighter Combat Leader, positions that involve pushing aircraft to their limits, evaluating new systems, and contributing to their enhancement. These roles underscore his skill, bravery, and dedication to aviation.
Shukla’s space journey officially began in 2019 when he was chosen for India’s Gaganyaan Mission. He underwent intense training at Russia’s Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre, completing it in 2021, and further refined his abilities at the Astronaut Training Facility in Bangalore. Shukla has built a remarkable career as a fighter pilot with over 2,000 flight hours and more than 16 years of service.
The mission is a part of a privately funded commercial initiative, with India reportedly investing over $60 million to secure Shukla’s seat on the ISS. His flight not only advances India’s human spaceflight goals but also strengthens the nation’s presence in global space collaborations.
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