The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) announced on Friday that Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla has been selected as the ‘prime Gaganyatri’ for the upcoming Indo-US mission to the International Space Station (ISS).

The National Mission Assignment Board has recommended two 'Gaganyatris' for the mission: one as the primary pilot and the other as the backup. Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla has been chosen as the primary pilot, while Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair will serve as the backup pilot.

On Friday, ISRO revealed that its Human Space Flight Centre has signed an agreement with Axiom Space Inc. for the Axiom-4 mission to the ISS.

ISRO stated, "The final approval for the assigned crew members to travel to the International Space Station will come from the Multilateral Crew Operations Panel (MCOP). The recommended Gaganyatris will begin their mission training in the first week of August 2024."

Who is Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla?

Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, born on October 10, 1985, in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, graduated from the National Defence Academy and joined the Indian Air Force (IAF) fighter stream on June 17, 2006. He has accumulated over 16 years of service and more than 2,000 flying hours.

Affectionately known as Gunjan, Shubhanshu is the youngest of three siblings and the first in his family to join the armed forces. He is also a father to a four-year-old son, and his family views this achievement as a momentous occasion.

Shubhanshu was commissioned into the Indian Air Force on June 17, 2006, and characterizes his career as a “rollercoaster ride.” He has distinguished himself as a fighter combat leader and test pilot, with experience in multiple aircraft, including the Su-30MKI, MIG-21, MIG-29, Jaguar, and Hawk.

On February 27, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced Shubhanshu's selection, along with three other astronauts, for the Gaganyaan mission during an event at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre in Thiruvananthapuram. The four will participate in ISRO’s inaugural crewed space mission to low Earth orbit. 

Gaganyaan, India's first human spaceflight mission, is scheduled for launch in 2025 and aims to send a manned crew on a three-day mission orbiting 400 km above Earth before returning.

The astronauts have completed their basic spaceflight training in Russia and are now undergoing advanced training at ISRO’s Astronaut Training Facility (ATF) in Bengaluru.