Shubhanshu Shukla Awarded Ashok Chakra For Historic Ax-4 Space Mission
New Delhi – In a landmark announcement made hours ago, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla has been conferred with the Ashok Chakra, India’s highest peacetime gallantry award. The prestigious honour recognizes the trailblazing astronaut’s extraordinary courage and pivotal role as mission pilot during the historic Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) to the International Space Station (ISS).
Shukla’s 18-day expedition, which began with a launch aboard the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft “Grace” on June 25, 2025, marked the first visit by an Indian to the ISS in over four decades. As part of a multinational crew alongside astronauts from Poland and Hungary, the 39-year-old Indian Air Force (IAF) officer navigated the high-stakes journey, successfully docking with the orbital outpost 26 hours after liftoff.
Pioneering Science in Microgravity
During his tenure in space, Group Captain Shukla executed a suite of complex operations essential for the future of Indian spaceflight. The mission involved over 60 scientific experiments, including seven specific studies led by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
Shukla spearheaded critical research into space anaemia and cardiovascular health, closely monitoring how the human body reacts to prolonged weightlessness. Furthermore, he managed advanced materials science tests focused on the solidification of alloys in microgravity and oversaw biological studies involving the growth of protein crystals, which are vital for pharmaceutical development on Earth.
A Legacy for Gaganyaan
The mission provided critical data on life support systems, directly informing the safety protocols for India’s upcoming indigenous Gaganyaan programme, slated for 2027. Shukla’s daring feats—ranging from piloting through intricate orbital manoeuvres to managing microgravity operations—exemplified unparalleled bravery in the face of potential risks, including system failures and re-entry hazards.
ISRO invested heavily to secure this seat, gaining invaluable data for indigenous human spaceflight. Upon his safe return on July 15, 2025, after orbiting the Earth hundreds of times, Shukla solidified his legacy as only the second Indian in space since Rakesh Sharma in 1984.
Hailing from Lucknow, Shukla was selected for the Gaganyaan mission in 2019 and underwent rigorous training at Russia’s Yuri Gagarin Centre. His groundbreaking contributions have inspired 1.4 billion Indians, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi praising the astronaut for carrying the nation’s aspirations.
This accolade elevates Shukla alongside rare space honourees and fuels national excitement for India’s target of establishing its own space station by 2035.