Bhubaneswar, Jan. 25 -- India's space journey reached a proud milestone as Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, a pioneering astronaut of the Indian Air Force, was awarded the Ashoka Chakra for his exceptional courage and service during the landmark Axiom Mission 4 to the International Space Station. The honour recognises his role in a mission that placed India back in human spaceflight after more than four decades.

The Ashoka Chakra, India's highest peacetime gallantry award, was conferred on Shukla for his bravery and leadership as mission pilot during the Ax-4 mission in June 2025. His participation marked the first Indian visit to the ISS since Rakesh Sharma's flight in 1984, reigniting national pride in India's space ambitions.

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