Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla made history as the first Indian to set foot on the International Space Station (ISS) and was honoured on Sunday with the Ashoka Chakra, India’s top award for gallantry in peacetime.
This prestigious accolade was granted by President Droupadi Murmu just before Republic Day, as part of the gallantry awards that honoured 70 armed forces members, including six posthumous recipients.
In June of the previous year, Shukla marked his place in history as the second Indian to venture into space, and the first to visit the ISS during the significant Axiom Mission-4 (Ax-4). His 18-day mission in space took place 41 years after the famed flight of cosmonaut Rakesh Sharma on the Russian Soyuz-11 mission, representing a crucial advancement in India’s human spaceflight initiative.
The bestowal of the Ashoka Chakra to Shukla is widely regarded as recognition of the increasing strategic significance of the nation’s space sector. This esteemed honour is generally awarded to military personnel who exhibit “most conspicuous bravery” during peacetime.
A distinguished fighter pilot, Shukla has accumulated more than 2,000 flying hours on various aircraft, including the Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, MiG-29, Jaguar, Hawk, Dornier, and An-32. He took on the role of pilot for the Axiom-4 mission and was instrumental in advancing India’s position in human space exploration.
After his triumphant mission, Shukla became widely known, with his efforts — particularly in executing advanced scientific experiments aboard the ISS — receiving commendation from international space professionals.
The Axiom-4 mission was conducted by the US-based private firm Axiom Space, in partnership with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the European Space Agency (ESA), and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
This year’s gallantry awards included one Ashoka Chakra, three Kirti Chakras, and 13 Shaurya Chakras — one of which was awarded posthumously. The list also featured one Bar to Sena Medal (gallantry), 44 Sena Medals (gallantry), six Nao Sena Medals (gallantry), and two Vayu Sena Medals.
Hailing from Lucknow, Group Captain Shukla was commissioned into the Indian Air Force’s fighter stream in June 2006.
