Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla's mission marks a cultural and technological milestone in India's evolving space journey
India's space programme has long punched above its weight regarding achievements. Yet, our presence in space has remained largely unmanned—and curiously understated in celebrating individuals.
Image: Shutterstock
In a nation of over 1.4 billion people, only one Indian had ever journeyed into space—until now. Four decades after Rakesh Sharma's historic flight, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla becomes the second Indian to enter the cosmos. But this is more than a tale of rockets and engineering. As he pilots Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) to the International Space Station (ISS), Shukla marks a turning point in India's spacefaring ambitions, making a lasting contribution to its achievements in human space exploration. His mission is critical for the upcoming 'Gaganyaan' programme, offering hands-on experience in spaceflight and international collaboration.
India is no stranger to space. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is globally respected for doing more with less. We've reached the Moon, circled Mars, and launched satellites for a host of nations. India's space programme has long punched above its weight regarding achievements. Yet, our presence in space has remained largely unmanned—and curiously understated in celebrating individuals. Human spaceflight brings more than technological validation; it carries symbolic capital: a way of saying, "We belong among the stars too."
An Indian in space is not only a scientific milestone; it is a cultural moment. It reveals how nations frame leadership, symbolism, and the power of communication.
Because let's be clear: astronauts aren't just scientists or pilots. They are symbols. In the US and Russia, astronauts are national icons—featured on talk shows, in politics, and even in schoolbooks. Buzz Aldrin ran for office. John Glenn became a Senator. Chris Hadfield emerged as a global science communicator. Mark Kelly is now a sitting US Senator. In India, our space heroes often return to relative obscurity. Rakesh Sharma is remembered—but largely by Gen X.
Group Captain Shukla can be more than a fleeting headline; he can become a new kind of public figure in India's scientific imagination. As the Gaganyaan mission gathers momentum, India needs space heroes who inspire, educate, and engage beyond the launchpad. Shukla's live interactions with students during his mission are a step in that direction. If used well, his story could reignite public interest in science, galvanise a new generation of STEM learners, and remind us that astronauts are carriers of national dreams.
[This article has been reproduced with permission from SP Jain Institute of Management & Research, Mumbai. Views expressed by authors are personal.]