The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has appointed Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the youngest of its astronaut candidates, as the prime astronaut for the forthcoming Indo-US mission to the International Space Station (ISS).
Group Captain Shukla, recently promoted, will spearhead this mission with Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair serving as the backup astronaut.
The role of a 'prime astronaut' is crucial, as this individual is designated to fly, while a backup astronaut is always on standby to step in if needed.
Born in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, on October 10, 1985, Group Captain Shukla is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy and has been a commissioned officer in the fighter stream of the Indian Air Force (IAF) since June 17, 2006. A Fighter Combat Leader and test pilot, he boasts around 2,000 hours of flight experience on aircraft such as the Sukhoi-30MKI, MiG-21, MiG-29, Jaguar, Hawk, Dornier, and An-32.
Group Captain Nair, the backup astronaut, is the oldest among the astronaut candidates.
Born on August 26, 1976, in Thiruvazhiyad, Kerala, he is also a National Defence Academy alumnus and a Sword of Honour recipient from the Air Force Academy. Commissioned in the IAF on December 19, 1998, he is a Category-A flying instructor and test pilot with about 3,000 hours of flight experience on various aircraft, including the Sukhoi-30MKI, MiG-21, MiG-29, Hawk, Dornier, and An-32. Nair has also studied at the United States Staff College and has served as a Directing Staff at the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, and the Flying Instructors School, Tambaram. He has commanded a Sukhoi-30MKI squadron.
India's space program has had only one previous astronaut, Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma, who flew on an Indo-Soviet mission in 1984. Experts commend ISRO's choice of the youngest astronaut for this mission, as it aligns with the long-term goals of the Gaganyaan program, which aims to send humans to the Moon by 2040.
ISRO's Human Space Flight Centre (HSFC) has signed a Space Flight Agreement (SFA) with Axiom Space Inc., a NASA-identified service provider, for the upcoming Axiom-4 mission to the ISS. This agreement was solidified following the joint statement signed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the US in June 2023.
The National Mission Assignment Board has recommended the two astronauts as prime and backup mission pilots. They will commence their training for the mission this week, during which they will conduct scientific research, technology demonstrations, and space outreach activities aboard the ISS. This mission is expected to provide valuable experience for India's Human Space Programme and enhance cooperation between ISRO and NASA.