Indian astronaut Subhanshu Shukla makes history at the ISS. Know how this ₹550 crore space mission will empower India’s Gaganyaan dream. UPSC-ready
🚀 India in Space: Subhanshu Shukla’s Historic ISS Mission and the Road to Gaganyaan
Category: Science & Technology | For: UPSC Prelims + Mains (GS-3, GS-2 IR)
: upscuniverse360.com/indian-astronaut-subhanshu-shukla-gaganyaan-iss-tech
️ Introduction
In a monumental leap for Indian space ambitions, Group Captain Subhanshu Shukla became the first Indian astronaut in four decades to go to space and the first Indian to visit the International Space Station (ISS). His mission aboard Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) in 2025 marks a major milestone for India’s upcoming Gaganyaan human spaceflight programme.
Who is Subhanshu Shukla?
- Indian Air Force Test Pilot with 2000+ flying hours
- Graduate of NDA, IAF Academy, IISc (M.Tech in Aerospace)
- Selected as one of the four Gaganyaan astronauts by ISRO in 2019
- Trained in Russia and India in space systems, survival, and microgravity
Axiom Mission 4 (June–July 2025)
- Mission Type: Private mission to the ISS with SpaceX (Falcon-9 + Crew Dragon)
- Objective: Gain hands-on experience for India’s Gaganyaan mission
- Duration: 18 days in space, conducting 7 Indian-designed experiments
- Cost: Estimated ₹550 crore (sponsored by GoI & ISRO)
- Significance:
- First Indian astronaut since Rakesh Sharma (1984)
- Key data on human health, hygiene, fluid dynamics in microgravity
- Boosts India’s human spaceflight credentials ahead of Gaganyaan (2027)
Key Experiments Conducted by Shukla
- Cyanobacteria growth in space (for future life support systems)
- Human cardiovascular & muscle response in zero-gravity
- Fluid physics for ISRO’s fuel systems
- Protein crystallization
- ISRO payload handling protocols in space
Importance for UPSC GS-3 (Science & Tech)
- Strengthens India’s position in the Global Space Race
- Demonstrates the role of Public-Private Partnership (Axiom-SpaceX-ISRO)
- Directly contributes to the Make in India – Space Tech vision
- Establishes India’s credibility in crewed missions
- Advances tech for astrobiology, biomedical systems, and microgravity material science
🇮🇳 Gaganyaan Mission: Background for Mains
- ISRO’s first indigenous human spaceflight program
- Aims to send 2–3 Indians to LEO (~400 km altitude)
- Technologies developed:
- Human-rated launch vehicles (HLVM3)
- Crew Escape System
- Space Habitat module
- Launch target: By 2027 (delayed due to COVID-19 and tech refinements)
UPSC Prelims Quick Facts
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| First Indian in space | Rakesh Sharma (1984, Soyuz-T11) |
| First Indian at ISS | Subhanshu Shukla (2025, Ax-4) |
| Gaganyaan Budget | Approx ₹9023 crore |
| Axiom Mission 4 | SpaceX + Axiom Space + NASA |
| ISS Altitude | ~400 km (Low Earth Orbit) |
| ISRO’s Training Partner | Russia’s Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center |
Quotes for Essay / GS Answers
“India looks ambitious, fearless and confident… Saare Jahan Se Achha” — Subhanshu Shukla from ISS
“India’s astronaut in ISS is not just a symbol, but a signal that we are ready to lead in the global space sector.” — Expert commentary
Related Topics for Linkage
- Space Diplomacy (GS-2)
- Private sector in Indian Space (IN-SPACe, New Space Policy 2023)
- ISRO vs NASA vs SpaceX
- Ethical challenges in Human Spaceflight
- Applications of space tech in health, agriculture, education
Suggested PYQs
(UPSC Prelims, 2020): “Which of the following are associated with space tech in India…?”
(UPSC Mains GS-3, 2021): “Discuss India’s achievements in space science and technology.”
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