Shubhanshu Shukla educational qualifications: From NDA cadet to astronaut, charting a course to the stars

On a quiet night in Lucknow, a young Shubhanshu Shukla gazed at the sky, captivated by the stories of the Kargil War. Two decades later, he is set to make history as India’s next astronaut. A decorated Indian Air Force fighter pilot, Shukla has trained rigorously in Russia and India, preparing for both the Gaganyaan mission and Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) to the International Space Station. His journey—from flying MiG-21s to commanding a SpaceX Dragon—marks India’s ascent in human spaceflight. As he readies for liftoff, he carries with him not just personal ambition but the aspirations of a nation venturing beyond Earth.