Ever imagined yourself rocketing into space in a sleek capsule named Grace? That’s exactly what Lucknow-born Group Captain Shubhanshu “Shux” Shukla did on June 25, 2025, when he became the first Indian in 41 years to reach the ISS—launching history along with himself aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon on the Axiom Mission 4 (Ax‑4).
Meet Shux—Pilot, Scientist, Space Yogi
A test pilot with over 2,000 hours in jets like Su-30s, MiGs, and Jaguars, Shukla trained at NDA (2005 grads) and in Star City, Russia. Today, he’s the astronaut propelling India’s Gaganyaan dreams forward—clearly, a pilot made for space.
Liftoff, Docking & Mission Chatter
After a couple of date tweaks, Grace finally launched on a shiny Falcon 9 at 12:01 pm IST and touched down on the ISS by 4:30 pm IST on June 26. Shukla was right there at the controls—a pilot’s dream!
Science with a ‘Desi’ Soul
Shukla’s been busy with seven homegrown experiments aboard the ISS:
- Growing fenugreek and moong dal—looking into space food science.
- Studying tardigrades, algae, muscle tissue, and how humans use screens (a post-Zoom world emergency!).
- Hosting zero-gravity yoga sessions and sharing moong dal & carrot halwa for that desi flavor—space can be sweet.
Why India’s Smiling
This mission is historic—Shukla is the first Indian on the ISS after Rakesh Sharma in 1984. With him piloting, culture in his kit, and NASA‑ISRO‑Axiom‑SpaceX joining forces, the mission is more than science—it’s pride with a purpose.
Final Stardust
In his own words:
“Even stars are attainable… This ride is much larger than yourself.”
Shukla’s journey is science with soul, a cosmic leap powered by an Indian pilot’s flair for curiosity, calm, and cultural spice. Whether he nails a zero-G yoga pose or shares halwa with the ISS crew, he’s bringing India’s spirit into orbit—and beyond.
