'Proud, Never Nervous...': Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla's Parents After Son's Selection For ISS

Lucknow: Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla's family in Lucknow is brimming with pride following his selection for an upcoming Indo-US mission to the International Space Station (ISS).

His father, Shambhu Dayal Shukla, a retired government officer, expressed the family's pride, saying, “We are very happy and feel proud of his achievements. We are praying to God that the mission becomes successful, which we are confident about. People of the country are also showering their blessings.” Shambhu noted that he had spoken to Shubhanshu on Friday when he received the news of his selection.

Shubhanshu's mother, Asha Shukla, described him as “cool-minded” and capable of handling any situation without losing his temper. She added, “His achievements have made the family extremely happy. There is no nervousness. Once in a while we hear about something negative about such missions, but we have put our faith in God.”

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) announced on Friday that Group Captains Shubhanshu Shukla and Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair have been selected for the ISS mission. Shubhanshu is the primary astronaut, with Nair as his backup, as recommended by NASA-identified service provider Axiom Space Inc.

Celebrations erupted at the Shukla family's home in Lucknow's Triveni Nagar area. Shambhu reminisced about his son's childhood, noting that despite initially wanting Shubhanshu to pursue a career in civil services or medicine, “one's destiny is chosen by God.” He proudly stated, “My child has been successful in every step. He got selected for the Air Force, then by the ISRO, and now for the space mission.”

Asha reflected on her son's childhood, saying, “We had an inkling that he would do something great in life. He is very cool-minded and never loses his temper whatever the situation be. He handles situations smoothly.”

The news of Shubhanshu’s selection has led to a flurry of congratulatory calls and celebrations, including at his alma mater, City Montessori School in Lucknow.

The school posted on Facebook, “Shubhanshu studied in CMS Aliganj Campus I, Lucknow, from age 3 to 18 before joining the NDA and later the Indian Air Force. He will join the Axiom 4 mission to the ISS, collaborating with NASA and ISRO, and working alongside astronaut Peggy Whitson. This mission will mark a significant milestone in space-flight cooperation between ISRO and NASA. Earlier Shubhanshu was chosen to man ISRO's first human-manned space mission Gaganyaan.” 

The school added, “Shubhanshu is a distinguished fighter pilot with over 2,000 flying hours. Congratulations, Shubhanshu! We are all incredibly proud of you.”

Shubhanshu’s sister, Suchi Shukla, shared her excitement, stating, “He has given us another opportunity to feel proud. It feels wonderful that he will literally touch new heights in a few days to come.”

(With PTI Inputs)