Will Shubhanshu Shukla Stick with the Air Force or Jump to ISRO After His Space Adventure?
So, India’s newest space hero—Shubhanshu Shukla—is back on solid ground after his 18-day stint on the International Space Station. The whole country’s buzzing about it, but now comes the real question: Will he stay put in his sharp Air Force blues or swap them for ISRO’s civilian whites? This isn’t just about one guy’s career—it could shift how India plays the space game.
1. The Man, The Myth, The Spacefarer
Let me tell you about Shukla. Lucknow boy, science nerd turned fighter pilot, and now—space traveler. The guy’s got over 2,000 hours in fighter jets under his belt before he even got near a rocket. And that Axiom Mission? Pure guts. Training with NASA and SpaceX isn’t exactly a walk in the park.
Up there, he wasn’t just taking pretty Earth pics—though I’m sure his Instagram’s fire. Seven legit experiments, from studying how proteins behave in zero-G to keeping tabs on our atmosphere. Oh, and he kept his cool when a solar flare decided to crash the party. That’s the kind of calm you can’t teach.
2. The Million-Dollar Choice: Blue Uniform or Space Suit?
Staying with the Air Force
Right now, he’s a Wing Commander testing fancy aircraft systems. If he stays:
- He’s on track to become top brass—think stars on the shoulder
- Could build up the Air Force’s space wing from scratch
- Basically become Yoda for future military astronauts
But here’s the thing—the Air Force is all about things that fly in the atmosphere, not outside it. Kinda like asking a marathon runner to coach swimmers.
Jumping Ship to ISRO
ISRO’s Gaganyaan program is screaming for people who’ve actually been up there. Shukla could:
- Train India’s next space travelers
- Help design systems to keep them alive out there
- Become the poster boy for India’s space dreams
Downside? Going from military precision to government speed is like shifting from a fighter jet to a bullock cart. No offense to ISRO—they get stuff done, but you know how it is.
3. What Everyone’s Saying
The Air Force chief gave the classic diplomatic answer: “We’ll support whatever he chooses.” Smooth. Meanwhile, ISRO’s boss is practically waving a “We Want You” poster with all his talk of “exciting opportunities.”
Space policy nerds are losing their minds over this. One expert put it bluntly: “NASA snatched up military guys for Apollo—ISRO needs to move fast or lose him.” Twitter’s divided too—62% want him at ISRO, but Air Force vets are all #KeepHimFlying.
4. How Others Played It
History’s got some clues. Rakesh Sharma—India’s first spaceman—went back to the Air Force but left early. Buzz Aldrin? Great on the moon, struggled back on Earth. China’s Yang Liwei played it smart—space to leadership.
The interesting one? Germany’s Thomas Reiter did both—active space work while keeping ties to the Luftwaffe. Maybe that’s the play here?
5. What’s Next?
Word is Shukla’s keeping quiet until August after his medical checks. Either way, it’s big:
- Air Force: Could mean military satellites and space defense get a turbo boost
- ISRO: Might be the push needed for that Mars crewed mission we keep hearing about
And get this—Modi’s supposedly cooking up some new space policy that could create a hybrid astronaut team. Timing’s suspicious, right?
Wrapping Up
Shukla’s at a crossroads, and honestly, it mirrors where India’s at with space. Air Force roots run deep, but ISRO’s where the future’s being written. Maybe the answer isn’t picking one—maybe it’s time to rewrite the rules entirely. What would you do if you were in his shoes?
Quick Answers to Stuff People Are Asking
1. How long was he actually in space?
18 days—Axiom Mission 3. Long enough to miss proper chai, I bet.
2. What was he doing up there besides floating around?
Science stuff—protein experiments, Earth watching, testing tech for future Indian missions. Not just taking selfies, promise.
3. Has any Indian astronaut switched from Air Force to ISRO before?
Nope. Rakesh Sharma stayed Air Force, though some moved to aviation research later.
4. Is ISRO going to have full-time astronauts now?
Looks like it. Gaganyaan needs dedicated crews—rumor is 6-8 spots by 2025.
5. Why does this mission matter for India?
Gives us real spaceflight experience before Gaganyaan, makes other space agencies take us seriously, and might just inspire the next kid who’s staring at the stars right now.
Source: News18 Hindi – Nation
