41 Years Later, India Returns to Space: Shubhanshu Shukla Becomes Second Indian Astronaut After Rakesh Sharma

India has once again touched the cosmos — and this time, with new ambition, new partnerships, and a pilot whose journey is rewriting history.

Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla of the Indian Air Force has become the second Indian astronaut ever to travel to space, 41 years after Rakesh Sharma first made the nation proud in 1984.
In a country where dreams often clash with gravity, Shukla’s mission is more than just a milestone — it’s a message to every Indian: we are not just participants in global progress; we are shaping it.

A Moment Frozen in Time: June 25, 2025
 

At exactly 12:01 PM IST, from NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre in Florida, the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket soared into the sky, carrying the Crew Dragon spacecraft “Freedom” — and with it, four astronauts on the Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4).
Among them: Shubhanshu Shukla — not just a passenger, but the pilot.

A day later, on June 26, the spacecraft successfully docked with the International Space Station (ISS), where the team will carry out microgravity experiments, research, and scientific work for the next 14 days.

This isn’t just a mission — it’s a statement.
India is back in space.

 

Who Is Shubhanshu Shukla?
 

Shubhanshu Shukla isn’t a celebrity. He isn’t someone who craves the spotlight.
He’s a man of discipline, of dreams grounded in action.

• Age: 39
• Hometown: Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
• Background: Alumnus of the National Defence Academy (NDA) and the prestigious Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore
• Profession: Group Captain in the Indian Air Force, with over 2,000 hours of flight experience as a test pilot
• Service Entry: 2006, Indian Air Force

Selected by Axiom Space for his exemplary aviation expertise and international-level training, Shukla was chosen to co-pilot this historic international mission — not as a token representation, but as a technically proficient, globally competitive astronaut.

 

A Legacy Rekindled: From Rakesh Sharma to Shubhanshu Shukla

 

India’s tryst with space began with Rakesh Sharma in 1984, who spent nearly 8 days aboard the Soviet Soyuz T-11, making history as the first Indian in space.
When then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi asked Sharma how India looked from space, he famously said:

“Saare Jahan Se Achha.”

Now, 41 years later, another Indian in uniform has taken the tricolour beyond Earth — once again reminding the world of India’s quiet but determined stride in the space race.
But this time, the context is new:

Private spaceflight, international collaborations, commercial missions, and India emerging not just as a spacefaring nation — but as a space partner.

 

What Makes the Ax-4 Mission Special?

 

• Led by Axiom Space (a US-based space company), in collaboration with NASA and SpaceX
• Carries astronauts from India, Hungary, Poland, and the United States
• Focus: Experiments in microgravity, biomedical studies, and advancing commercial spaceflight
• This is India’s first participation in an international private mission to the ISS
• A key learning platform ahead of India’s own Gaganyaan mission

 

National Response: A Nation Watches, A State Celebrates
 

The country’s pride was echoed by political leaders and the public alike.

• Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath called the mission “a shining symbol of India’s growing stature in science and space.”
• Across India, from classrooms to newsrooms, the name Shubhanshu Shukla has become a beacon of possibility.
• The Indian Air Force — rarely in the limelight for space missions — now holds a new badge of honour.

This isn’t just a UP-success story.
It’s an Indian story.

 

What This Means for Gaganyaan and India’s Space Future
 

India’s indigenous human spaceflight mission, Gaganyaan, is in the works.

Shukla’s participation in a global mission like Ax-4 helps in multiple ways:

• Skill Transfer: Learning from ISS missions and international teams
• Operational Readiness: Understanding docking, microgravity adaptation, emergency protocols
• Strategic Visibility: Strengthening India’s place in the global space economy

Gaganyaan is expected to carry Indian astronauts to low-Earth orbit in the coming years. Shukla’s mission is seen as a stepping stone — a test not of machines, but of mindsets and capability.

 

In Conclusion: Why This Moment Matters
 

In a world chasing AI, tech, and data — this mission reminds us that human ambition still matters.
That for all the satellites and code, it’s the courage to step beyond Earth that still inspires the deepest awe.
Shubhanshu Shukla is now only the second Indian ever to be called an astronaut.
But he represents something far greater — a generation that refuses to be left behind, a country no longer contents being on the sidelines.
From the skies of Lucknow to the stars above Earth — this is not just a flight. It’s a signal.
India is back in the game. And this time, we’re here to lead.