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Shubhanshu Shukla: 20 Years in IAF, From Fighter Pilot to Space Explorer
✍️ TOI India
🗓 18 Jun 2026, 03:01 PM
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Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla has completed 20 years of service in the Indian Air Force, reflecting on his transition from a fighter pilot to a space traveler.
Shubhanshu Shukla, a distinguished astronaut from India, has reached a significant milestone, celebrating two decades of dedicated service in the Indian Air Force (IAF).
Shukla's career trajectory showcases a remarkable transition from the cockpit of advanced fighter jets to the frontiers of space exploration. He is noted as the nation's pioneering astronaut to have journeyed to the International Space Station (ISS).
Reflecting on his extensive career, Shukla described his experience as an 'extraordinary adventure' and a 'life well-lived,' underscoring the unique path he has traversed within the IAF and beyond.
Shukla's career trajectory showcases a remarkable transition from the cockpit of advanced fighter jets to the frontiers of space exploration. He is noted as the nation's pioneering astronaut to have journeyed to the International Space Station (ISS).
Reflecting on his extensive career, Shukla described his experience as an 'extraordinary adventure' and a 'life well-lived,' underscoring the unique path he has traversed within the IAF and beyond.