Shubhanshu Shukla takes flight for Axiom-4 mission: Meet his family, wife who witnessed the emotional liftoff

Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla was born in Lucknow and developed a passion for flying at a young age. Inspired by the Kargil War, he joined the National Defence Academy and became a fighter pilot, accumulating over 2,000 hours of flight experience in various aircraft.

Shubhanshu Shukla's space journey began in 2019 with selection for India's Gaganyaan Mission. He trained at Russia's Yuri Gagarin Centre and later in Bangalore, where he pursued a Master's in Aerospace Engineering from IISc Bangalore, preparing him for his space mission with advanced skills and knowledge.

Shubhanshu's family has been his pillar of support. His father, Shambhu Dayal Shukla, is a retired government officer, his mother, Asha Shukla, is a homemaker, and he is the youngest of three siblings. 

Shubhanshu Shukla and his wife Kamna, a dentist, have known each other since Class 3. Their childhood friendship blossomed into marriage. They have a six-year-old son, Sid. Kamna supported Shubhanshu throughout his demanding astronaut training, standing by him every step of the way with love and care.

Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is part of the Axiom Mission 4, a collaboration between ISRO, NASA, and Axiom Space. He has joined a four-member crew, including astronaut Peggy Whitson, representing a milestone in India's space exploration journey.