Shubhanshu Shukla Honoured in Lucknow | 26 Aug 2025

Why in News?

Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the first Indian to travel to the International Space Station (ISS), received an overwhelming welcome upon his return to Lucknow, his hometown.

  • The Uttar Pradesh government organized a special felicitation ceremony at Lok Bhawan, where Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath honored Shubhanshu Shukla and his family.

Key Points

  • Scholarship: The CM announced the establishment of a scholarship in Shubhanshu’s name for students pursuing space technology, highlighting that it had been four decades since an Indian had the opportunity to travel to space.
    • The state’s active participation in space technology was also underscored, with more than a dozen institutions in Uttar Pradesh now offering related courses.
  • Postal Stamp: India Post also launched a postal cover and stamp in honor of Shubhanshu’s space mission.
  • Mobile Innovation Programme: City Montessori School (CMS), Lucknow, in collaboration with Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Technical University (AKTU), launched the “Shubhanshu Shukla Innovations Express”, a mobile innovation programme to celebrate his feat.
  • Role in Disaster Management: The CM also emphasized the crucial role of space technology in improving the management of natural disasters

Shubhanshu Shukla

  • Indian Air Force Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is the first Indian astronaut to travel to the International Space Station (ISS) on a private mission in 2025. 
    • It was led by NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, and Shubhanshu Shukla served as the mission pilot. 
  • He is also the astronaut-designate for India’s human spaceflight program, Gaganyaan. 
  • He boarded the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft from Kennedy Space Center in Florida as part of the Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4), a joint venture between NASA and ISRO
  • The Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) involves astronauts from India, Poland, and Hungary and is the first such collaboration in over 40 years. 
  • The astronauts spent 14 days aboard the ISS conducting scientific experiments, educational outreach, and commercial activities with NASA and ISRO. 
  • Rakesh Sharma was the first Indian to travel to space in 1984 aboard the Soviet Soyuz T-11 mission under the Interkosmos program.