PERSONAL INFORMATION
Other name: Shubanshu Shukla [1] Bharat Rakshak
Nickname: Gunjan
Profession(s): • Group Captain in Indian Air Force (IAF) • Astronaut in Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
Famous for: • Being one of the four astronauts of Gaganyaan, India’s first Indian Human Spaceflight Program • Being the first Indian to reach the International Space Station (ISS)
Date of Birth: 10 October 1985 (Thursday)
Age (as of 2024): 39 Years
Birthplace: Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
Zodiac sign: Libra
Nationality: Indian
Hometown: Lucknow
Religion/Religious Views: Agnostic but believes in horoscopes
Marriage Date: Year: 2009
Age: 39 Years
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EDUCATION
School: City Montessori School, Aliganj, Lucknow
Educational Qualification: 12th standard (passed in 2001) [2] Instagram – City Montessori School
PHYSICAL STATISTICS
Height (approx.): in centimeters – 178 cm in meters – 1.78 m in feet & inches – 5’ 10”
Weight (approx.): in kilograms – 70 kg in pounds – 154 lbs
Eye Colour: Black
Hair Colour: Black
FAMILY & RELATIONSHIPS
Marital Status: Married
Wife/Spouse: Kamna Shubha Shukla (Dentist) Note: She hails from Jankipuram, Lucknow. Her father’s name is Braja Mohan Misra.
Children: Son – Kiyas (Born in 2020)
Parents: Father – Shambhu Dayal Shukla (Retired secretary of Uttar Pradesh minister) Mother – Asha Shukla (Homemaker)
Siblings: Sister – 2 • Nidhi Shukla (Holds an MBA degree) • Shuchi Mishra (Teacher at Tender Hearts School, Lucknow)
Wife: Kamna Shubha Shukla
OTHER INFORMATION
Service number: 29014
Branch: F(P)
Course: 177
Commissioning Date: 17 June 2006
Hobbies: • Reading books on space • Learning new technology
INTERESTING BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Shubhanshu Shukla’s journey began in 1973 when his father relocated from Sandila, Hardoi, to Lucknow, laying down roots in the vibrant Triveni Nagar neighborhood in 1980. This move marked the beginning of a new chapter for the family, setting the stage for Shubhanshu’s remarkable aspirations. Years later, in 2002, an unexpected opportunity emerged when a friend offered him an application form for the National Defence Academy (NDA) entrance exam, a path that his friend decided against pursuing. Driven by ambition and a desire to carve his own path, Shubhanshu applied without informing his family, ultimately securing his selection and embarking on a career that would change his life forever.
On June 17, 2006, Shubhanshu was commissioned in the Indian Air Force (IAF) as a fighter pilot, a role that would allow him to fulfill his lifelong dream. With dedication and skill, he rose to become a fighter combat leader and a test pilot, amassing approximately 2,000 hours of flight experience on an array of aircraft, including the formidable Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, MiG-29, Jaguar, Hawk, Dornier, and An-32. His exemplary performance did not go unnoticed, and on the same date in 2019, he was promoted to Wing Commander, a position that further underscored his significant contributions to the IAF.
Shubhanshu’s career took an exciting turn in 2019 when he was selected by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for training at the prestigious Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, in preparation for India’s first human space program, Gaganyaan. Between February 2020 and March 2021, he underwent rigorous training, absorbing knowledge about spacecraft systems, space physiology, and emergency procedures. His journey, however, was not without its challenges; his father revealed in an interview that Shubhanshu often kept his plans secret from the family, even during critical moments such as the Balakot strike in 2019 when communication was scarce.
Despite initial reservations from his mother regarding his aspirations to become an astronaut, Shubhanshu’s determination remained unwavering. In August 2024, ISRO made a monumental announcement by signing an agreement with Axiom Space Inc. to send him, along with backup astronaut Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair, to the International Space Station (ISS) as part of the Axiom-4 mission. As 2025 approached, NASA confirmed his selection as one of four astronauts scheduled to visit the ISS in the spring of that year, making him the first Indian astronaut to embark on such a journey.
The culmination of years of hard work and dedication arrived on June 25, 2025, when Shubhanshu was launched to the ISS as a mission pilot aboard the Axiom Mission 4 from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Upon reaching the ISS, he addressed the Indian public in Hindi, marking a historic milestone as ISS Astronaut number 634. His adventure continued until July 14, 2025, when he left the ISS and, accompanied by four colleagues, completed a successful splashdown off the Californian coast on July 15, 2025, at 3:01 PM IST. Shubhanshu’s triumphant return to Earth not only fulfilled his dreams but also inspired countless others to reach for the stars.
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Note: All biographical information compiled from publicly available sources.