Shubhanshu Shukla Biography
Shubhanshu Shukla, nicknamed “Shux,” is a decorated Indian Air Force test pilot and one of India’s first astronauts under the Gaganyaan Human Spaceflight Programme. As of June 2025, he is making history as the second Indian to travel to space, serving as the pilot of Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) to the International Space Station.
Early Life & Background
Born: October 10, 1985
Age: 39 (as of 2025)
Birthplace: Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
Parents: Shambhu Dayal Shukla (retired government secretary) and Asha Shukla (homemaker)
Siblings: Two sisters – Nidhi (MBA graduate) and Shuchi (schoolteacher)
Inspiration: The 1999 Kargil War inspired him to join the armed forces
Education
Schooling: City Montessori School, Aliganj, Lucknow
Bachelor’s Degree: B.Sc. in Computer Science from National Defence Academy (NDA), graduated in 2005
Military Training: Indian Air Force Academy – commissioned as a Fighter Pilot in 2006
Postgraduate: Master of Technology in Aerospace Engineering from IISc Bangalore (thesis pending due to space mission)
Military & Aviation Career
Branch: Indian Air Force (IAF)
Rank: Group Captain
Service Years: 2006–present
Flight Experience: Over 2,000 hours across aircraft like Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, MiG-29, Jaguar, Hawk, Dornier 228, and An-32
Specialization: Test pilot, fighter combat leader, and instructor
Astronaut Selection & Trai
Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4)
Launch Date: June 25, 2025
Role: Pilot
Mission: 14-day stay aboard the International Space Station, conducting experiments in:
Space nutrition (e.g., growing methi and moong in microgravity)
Seed regeneration
Bio-regenerative life support systems
Human physiology in space
Personal Life
Spouse: Dr. Kamna Shubha Shukla (dentist from Lucknow)
Child: Son named Kiyas, born in 2020
Religion: Agnostic, though he believes in horoscope
Achievements & Legacy
First Indian to fly to the ISS
Second Indian in space after Rakesh Sharma (1984)
Key figure in India’s space diplomacy and scientific research
Contributed to futuristic space habitation research at IISc, including “space bricks” and Martian regolith studies
Shubhanshu Shukla’s journey from a Lucknow schoolboy to a spacefarer is a story of grit, intellect, and national pride.
Shubhanshu Shukla Biography
As of 2025, Shubhanshu Shukla is 39 years old. He was born on October 10, 1985, in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India. He celebrated his 39th birthday on October 10, 2024, and will turn 40 on October 10, 2025. His zodiac sign is Libra.
Shubhanshu Shukla Education
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla’s educational journey is a blend of academic excellence, military discipline, and aerospace specialization—perfectly tailored for his role as one of India’s pioneering astronauts.
He began his schooling at City Montessori School (CMS), Aliganj Campus, in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. Inspired by the 1999 Kargil War, he secretly prepared for and cleared the UPSC National Defence Academy (NDA) examination, driven by a desire to serve the nation.
In 2005, he graduated from the National Defence Academy with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science. This academic foundation was paired with rigorous military training, after which he joined the Indian Air Force Academy, where he was commissioned into the fighter stream in 2006.
Later, he pursued a Master of Technology (M.Tech) in Aerospace Engineering from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, India’s top-ranked research institution. His postgraduate studies focused on advanced aerospace systems and spaceflight dynamics, although his thesis submission was deferred due to his astronaut training and spaceflight commitments.
Shukla’s astronaut training included stints at:
Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center, Russia (2019–2021)
ISRO Astronaut Training Facility, Bengaluru
Additional modules at the European Space Agency and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, enhancing his readiness for international missions.
His education reflects a rare fusion of technical mastery, operational expertise, and global spaceflight training—a profile that places him at the forefront of India’s human spaceflight ambitions.
Shubhanshu Shukla Religion
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla identifies as agnostic, though he has expressed a belief in horoscopes, reflecting a nuanced and personal approach to spirituality.
He was raised in a Hindu Brahmin family in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, where traditional values and cultural rituals were part of his upbringing. However, as he matured—especially through his military and scientific training—he developed a more rational and secular worldview, aligning with the agnostic perspective.
Despite not adhering strictly to religious practices, Shukla respects cultural traditions and occasionally participates in family rituals. His belief in horoscopes suggests an openness to astrological symbolism, which is common in many Indian households, even among those who identify as non-religious.
Shubhanshu Shukla Net Worth
As of 2025, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla’s estimated net worth ranges between $5 million and $8 million USD.
This valuation reflects his distinguished career in the Indian Air Force, his role as a test pilot and astronaut, and his participation in international space missions like Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4).
Income Sources
Indian Air Force Salary & Benefits:
As a Group Captain with over 19 years of service, Shukla receives a high-ranking officer’s salary, allowances, and pension benefits. His role as a test pilot and fighter combat leader adds to his compensation tier.
Astronaut Training & Mission Stipends:
Selected for the Gaganyaan Human Spaceflight Programme and later for Axiom Space’s Ax-4 mission, he receives additional stipends and mission-related remuneration from ISRO, Axiom Space, and possibly NASA.
Government Entitlements:
Includes housing, medical benefits, and travel allowances as part of his military service package.
Assets & Lifestyle
Real Estate:
Shukla resides in government-provided IAF quarters in Bengaluru and Lucknow. There are no reports of private real estate holdings.
Investments:
While not publicly disclosed, his net worth likely includes savings, fixed deposits, and defense pension funds.
Lifestyle:
Known for a modest and disciplined lifestyle, he avoids luxury displays and focuses on family, service, and science.
Financial Outlook
With his rising public profile as India’s first astronaut to visit the International Space Station, Shukla may see future earnings from:
Speaking engagements
Scientific
- collaborations
- Educational outreach
- Potential book deals or documentaries
Shubhanshu Shukla Wife
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is married to Dr. Kamna Shubha Shukla, a dentist by profession and his lifelong companion in every sense of the word. Their love story is as remarkable as his journey to space.
They met as children at City Montessori School, Aliganj Campus in Lucknow, where they became best friends in Class 3. Over the years, their friendship blossomed into a deep bond that withstood the pressures of military life, long-distance training, and the demands of spaceflight. Kamna affectionately refers to him as “Gunjan”, the shy boy from their classroom who grew into a national hero.
Kamna has been a pillar of strength throughout Shubhanshu’s career. She stood by him during his rigorous astronaut training in Russia and India, and supported him through the emotional toll of missing family milestones—including much of their son’s early childhood. Before his historic launch aboard Axiom Mission 4, Shubhanshu penned a heartfelt message:
“Special thanks to Kamna for being the wonderful partner that you are. Without you none of this was possible—but more importantly, none of this would matter.”
They are parents to a six-year-old son, and Kamna has often spoken about the challenges of raising a child while her husband pursued his dream of spaceflight. Despite the sacrifices, she remains his biggest cheerleader, comparing his focus and discipline to that of Arjuna from the Mahabharata.
Their story is one of enduring friendship, mutual respect, and unwavering support—a quiet but powerful partnership that has helped launch one of India’s most inspiring space journeys.
Shubhanshu Shukla Children
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla and his wife, Dr. Kamna Shubha Shukla, have one child—a son named Kiyas, born in 2020.
Kiyas is six years old as of 2025 and has grown up in a household shaped by discipline, science, and deep emotional bonds. While his father trained for space missions and served in the Indian Air Force, much of Kiyas’s early upbringing was managed by Kamna, who balanced her dental career with parenting. Despite the physical distance during Shubhanshu’s astronaut training in Russia and later his spaceflight aboard Axiom Mission 4, the family remained tightly connected.
Shubhanshu has spoken about the emotional weight of missing milestones in his son’s life, and his wife has described how they’ve kept Kiyas involved in his father’s journey—watching rocket launches, learning about space, and even drawing pictures of his dad in a spacesuit. Their story reflects a modern Indian family navigating extraordinary circumstances with love, resilience, and pride.
Shubhanshu Shukla Social Media Followers
As of June 2025, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla does not maintain any official or verified social media accounts. While a Twitter (X) handle—@IndiaInSky—gained over 11,000 followers by posting updates and images related to his Axiom-4 space mission, it was later confirmed to be unauthorized and impersonating him.
Despite this, Shukla’s presence has been widely felt across digital platforms through media coverage, fan tributes, and official posts by organizations like ISRO, Axiom Space, and SpaceX. His heartfelt pre-launch message to his wife, shared via Instagram by others, went viral and drew thousands of supportive comments and reposts.
He is known to follow several Indian and international celebrities on Instagram—including Shweta Tiwari, Alia Bhatt, Priyanka Chopra, and Chris Hemsworth—but he has not publicly confirmed or promoted any personal account.
Shubhanshu Shukla Achievements
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla’s achievements are a landmark in India’s aerospace and defense history, marking him as a pioneer in both military aviation and human spaceflight. Here’s a full account of his accomplishments as of 2025:
Spaceflight Milestones
First Indian to visit the International Space Station (ISS): On June 25, 2025, Shukla launched aboard Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, becoming the first Indian astronaut to reach the ISS and only the second Indian in space after Rakesh Sharma in 1984.
Pilot of Axiom-4: He served as the mission pilot, a critical operational role, making him the first Indian to pilot a spacecraft to the ISS.
Scientific Contributions: Participated in over 60 international experiments, including seven designed by Indian scientists, covering areas like:
Microgravity’s effect on muscle and plant growth
Space-based materials testing
Cognitive function and microbial behavior
Gaganyaan Human Spaceflight Programme
Astronaut-Designate for Gaganyaan: Selected in 2019 by ISRO and the Institute of Aerospace Medicine as one of four astronauts for India’s first indigenous human spaceflight mission, scheduled for 2026.
Trained in Russia and India: Completed basic astronaut training at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Russia (2020–2021), followed by advanced training at ISRO’s Astronaut Training Facility in Bengaluru.
Indian Air Force Career
Commissioned in 2006 into the fighter stream of the Indian Air Force
Logged over 2,000 flight hours across aircraft including:
Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, MiG-29, Jaguar, Hawk, Dornier 228, and An-32
Served as a test pilot, fighter combat leader, and instructor, earning a reputation for technical precision and leadership
Honors & Recognition
Elevated to Group Captain in March 2024 for exemplary service
Widely celebrated as a national hero, with tributes from public figures like Rishabh Pant and Yuvraj Singh, who praised him for “lifting the hopes of all Indians” and “inspiring a generation”
Legacy
Revived India’s human spaceflight program after a 41-year gap
Symbol of international collaboration, working alongside astronauts from the U.S., Poland, and Hungary
Embodies the fusion of scientific excellence, military discipline, and national pride
Shukla’s journey from a schoolboy in Lucknow to the edge of Earth’s orbit is more than a personal triumph—it’s a defining chapter in India’s space story.
