By: The Trek News Desk
President Droupadi Murmu on Monday (January 26, 2026) honoured Indian Air Force Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla with the Ashok Chakra, India’s highest peacetime gallantry award, during the Republic Day celebrations held at Kartavya Path in the national capital.
Group Captain Shukla etched his name in history by becoming the first Indian to step aboard the International Space Station (ISS). In June 2025, he flew to space as part of the landmark Axiom Mission-4 (Axe-4), making him only the second Indian to travel beyond Earth. The achievement came more than four decades after India’s first spaceflight by Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma in 1984.
During his 18-day stay in space, Group Captain Shukla played a key role in conducting advanced scientific experiments. His performance received widespread appreciation from international space experts and significantly highlighted India’s growing capabilities in human space exploration on the global stage.
The Axiom-4 mission was led by US-based private space company Axiom Space, with active collaboration from NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA), and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
An accomplished fighter pilot, Group Captain Shukla has logged over 2,000 flying hours on a wide range of combat and transport aircraft. His experience includes flying the Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, MiG-29, Jaguar, Hawk, Dornier, and An-32 aircraft.
The conferment of the Ashok Chakra stands as a formal recognition of Group Captain Shukla’s exceptional achievements and his service to the nation. His journey from the Indian Air Force to the International Space Station is expected to inspire future generations and further strengthen India’s ambitions in space exploration.
Source: News Agencies
