“Wish to Discover More”: The Reason This Lucknow-Based Fighter Pilot Applied to Become an Astronaut on the Gaganyaan Mission

One of the four astronauts nominated for India’s first human space flight mission, Gaganyaan, Wing Commander Shubhanshu Shukla, lives by the motto, “Dig deeper, always have the hunger to know more about the world and never fear asking a question.”

Lucknow-born Shubhanshu attended City Montessori School in Aliganj before receiving his fighter pilot commission in 2006. With an amazing 2,00 flying hours, he has been in that job for more than 16 years.

He said that there are no words to adequately express the emotion of being selected for the mission. “I like to think of myself as lucky enough to be a member of Gaganyaan, which carries a great deal of responsibility. The task excites me,” he said to News18.

At the age of 14, Shubhanshu, who his family prefers to refer to as a “super-supportive” person, decided to enrol in the National Defense Academy (NDA). “If the Kargil war hadn’t happened, Shukla ji’s son would not have chosen defense as a career,” is a quote that many close to him have heard him remark often.

Only after the conflict in Kargil did Shubhanshu decide to enlist in the NDA. He obtained an NDA form from a buddy in Class XII who subsequently changed his mind, and he applied for the NDA without telling us. His older sister Suchi Shukla, a school teacher by profession, remarked, “My brother is the most disciplined man I have ever seen, and we strongly believe that it’s the hard work and discipline that has paid off.”

On June 17, 2006, Shubhanshu received his commission in the Indian Air Force. He claims that since then, his life has been a “rollercoaster ride.” He proved to be a fighter combat commander and test pilot with at least 2,000 flying hours as he progressed in his career. Among other fighters, he has flown the Su-30MKI, MIG-21, MIG-29, Jaguar, and Hawk.

That wasn’t all, however.

Shubhanshu said that the announcement of the Gaganyaan expedition in 2018 marked a turning point in his career. And without second thought, he applied for the mission based just on his curiosity and desire to learn more.

“The mission was revealed in 2018.” I applied because I wanted to experience more of life. The selection procedure, for which around 70 fighter pilots applied, took about a year, he added.

He went on to say that he didn’t realize he had made it and would be taking part in the famous mission until after he and the others were flown to Russia in 2020 for the training.

It was difficult to accept. However, I praised God and told my family the bad news when I received the phone telling me that we would need to go to Russia for training. The family was unaware that I would be participating in the space trip until that point, he said, adding that he was not permitted to discuss the mission in great detail.

The fighter pilot added that the crew was permitted to return to India, where they resumed their training, after an arduous training regimen that lasted almost four years. He said that his experience as a test pilot really aided him in his confidence about the mission.

“Being a test pilot is comfortable terrain for us. He said, “The training and navigation procedure was not tough. In addition to being happy, he feels a little nervous, but he thinks that this promotes introspection.

Shubhanshu’s name and the names of the other three astronauts selected for Gaganyaan were revealed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 27 at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre in Thiruvananthapuram. The four will take part in ISRO’s first crewed space mission, which will take them to low-Earth orbit.

Shubhanshu, affectionately known as Gunjan, is the youngest of three siblings. He is a father of a four-year-old kid and the first member of his family to enlist in the military. According to his family, it is a significant day for them.

A significant accomplishment is the PM revealing his identity for the operation. His father, retired from the secretariat Shambhu Dayal Shukla, stated, “It’s a proud moment for all of us.”

Shambhu Dayal said that his son told them about the space mission and his goal of becoming an astronaut during his last trip to Lucknow in December of last year. But up until then, he said, they had no idea it would become a reality so quickly.

Suchi said that she finds it difficult to comprehend that her brother would be in space for a few months. “I get chills just thinking about him being in space,” the woman said.

In addition to his family, Shubhanshu’s neighbors in the Triveninagar neighbourhood, where he resides, are also thrilled with his accomplishment and have dubbed him a “national hero.”

It’s a significant accomplishment for everyone of us. Many people find inspiration in Shubhanshu. We hope and pray for him to succeed,” a local citizen stated.

ANOTHER ASTRONAUT WITH UP CONNECTION: Prayagraj is the birthplace of Group Captain Angad Pratap, an NDA alumnus. He joined the air force on December 18, 2004, and since then, he has logged almost 2,000 flight hours as a test pilot and flying instructor in the fighter stream. Among the numerous cutting-edge fighters he has flown are the Su-30 MKI, MIG-21, Jaguar, and Hawk.