Indian Air Force Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla made history on Wednesday when he set off on a mission to the International Space Station (ISS) with three other astronauts. The flight was launched from Launch Complex 39A of NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Family Watches from Lucknow
In India, Shukla’s parents, Shambhu Dayal and Asha Shukla, were watching the historic moment from his alma mater in Lucknow with other teachers and students. The school had organized a live telecast on an LED screen, making the event a proud celebration of their erstwhile student’s phenomenal achievement.
As observed in photos distributed by ANI, the two parents were clearly emotional, a combination of pride and happiness as they watched their son shoot into space.
Watch:
#WATCH | Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh: Parents of IAF Group Captain & astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, celebrate as #Axiom4Mission lifts off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre in Florida, US.
The mission is being piloted by India’s IAF Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla. pic.twitter.com/SeRGTUiQeV
— ANI (@ANI) June 25, 2025
Before the liftoff, Shukla’s mother Asha Shukla expressed herself, “We cannot put this into words…We are not afraid for Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla in the least…We are glad, we are very proud,” she said, reflecting the pride and resilience that characterize the family’s backing.
His dad, Shambhu Dayal, also spoke to a great deal of pride and enthusiasm, “His mission is scheduled to take off at about 12 noon IST. We are very enthusiastic to witness his mission take off. We are thrilled. Our wishes are with him, and we pray to God for his mission to be successfully accomplished too… He is totally geared up… It is wonderful to see all the posters that have been erected for him…He is fetching laurels for Lucknow, for the state and for our country…We are proud of him.”
Who Is Shubhanshu Shukla?
Born in Lucknow in 1986, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is a seasoned fighter pilot serving in the Indian Air Force. Commissioned in the Air Force in 2006 after graduating from the elite National Defence Academy (NDA), he has flown thousands of hours of high-performance jets.
One of the few chosen astronauts to be part of ISRO’s next Gaganyaan mission in 2027, Shukla received exhaustive astronaut training in Russia and the United States. He was trained in orbital mechanics, emergency procedures, and scientific experimentation in microgravity. Shukla is widely known for his composed demeanor and technical expertise, representing the new breed of Indian space explorers.
About the Axiom-4 Mission
The Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission is the fourth commercial astronaut mission to the ISS, sponsored by Axiom Space. The mission launched on board SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft, launched into space by a Falcon 9 rocket from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center.
The mission is commanded by commander Peggy Whitson, a retired NASA astronaut and current central figure at Axiom Space. The global crew comprises mission specialists Slawosz Uznanski of Poland (on behalf of the European Space Agency) and Tibor Kapu of Hungary. Group Captain Shukla is the mission’s pilot, an essential role demanding accuracy, leadership, and technical skill.
