Shubhanshu Shukla’s journey: From secret NDA application to fighter pilot to India’s first astronaut on the ISS after 41 years

Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla smiled and waved after completing an 18-day mission aboard the International Space Station. His safe splashdown off California marks India’s first-ever astronaut visit to the ISS, a proud milestone for the nation’s space exploration journey. Shukla, piloting the Dragon spacecraft alongside NASA’s Peggy Whitson, conducted over 60 microgravity experiments spanning agriculture, medicine, and water research. The mission, part of Axiom’s private astronaut program, highlights India’s growing role in the global space age. #ShubhanshuShukla #ISSMission #IndiaInSpace #SpaceExploration #AxiomMission #SpaceX #DragonSpacecraft #NASA #PeggyWhitson #IndianAstronaut #ProudMoment #Splashdown #MicrogravityResearch #SpaceScience #GlobalSpaceAge #HistoricMission #SpaceInnovation #IndiaISS #AstronautLife #ISSHistoric #SpaceNews #SpaceTech #PrivateAstronautProgram #FutureOfSpace #ISS ~HT.178~ED.194~