Ashoka Chakra for Shubhanshu Shukla: India's ISS Pioneer
Ashoka Chakra for Shubhanshu Shukla: India's ISS Pioneer
President Murmu names Shubhanshu Shukla the Ashoka Chakra recipient on Republic Day, honoring his historic ISS visit as part of Ax-4.
On Republic Day, the national ceremony at Kartavya Path highlighted India’s space ascent as Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla received the Ashoka Chakra, the country’s highest peacetime gallantry award. The award, presented by the President, placed Shukla’s space milestone at the forefront of this year’s Republic Day honours.
Shukla became the first Indian to set foot on the International Space Station as part of the Ax-4 mission, an 18-day sojourn that cemented his place in India’s space history. He is also noted as the second Indian to travel to space, with the distinction of being the first to visit the ISS. This achievement follows the trailblazing path left by cosmonaut Rakesh Sharma, whose spaceflight occurred 41 years earlier.
A fighter pilot with around 2,000 flight hours, Shukla has flown various aircraft, including the Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, MiG-29, Jaguar, Hawk, Dornier, and An-32. His extensive flight experience underpins the technical excellence celebrated on Republic Day.
The Ax-4 mission was a collaborative effort involving Axiom Space, NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA), and ISRO. Managed by the US-based private firm Axiom Space, the mission underscored India’s growing participation in international spaceflight partnerships and human space exploration.
From Lucknow to the IAF fighter stream, Shukla’s journey reflects a broader narrative of India’s space and defense capabilities advancing in tandem. The Republic Day ceremony continues to recognize such feats as markers of national pride and scientific progress.
