India (Commonwealth Union)_ In the space exploration sector, several Indian-origin astronauts have played major roles in historic missions, particularly at NASA and other international space agencies. These space scientists range from engineers to astronauts, and their contributions have made India proud on the international stage and have inspired millions of others. Additionally, their journeys showcase their technical excellence as well as deep passion for science and discovery. Let’s look at some of the top Indian-origin space travelers and their remarkable achievements.
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Subhanshu Shukla
Group Captain Subhanshu Shukla, an Indian Air Force officer, scripted history by traveling to space in the Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4), which lifted off on SpaceX’s Falcon 9 on June 25, 2025. This mission made Shukla the second Indian astronaut to enter space after Rakesh Sharma. He accompanied a multinational group of astronauts from the United States, Poland, and Hungary on a high-profile mission to the multinational Space Station (ISS). His mission features scientific research, outreach initiatives, and a unique project that studies yoga in microgravity.
Rakesh Sharma
Rakesh Sharma, a former Indian Air Force pilot, became the first Indian national to travel to space. Accordingly, on April 3, 1984, he traveled aboard the Soviet Soyuz T-11 spacecraft as part of the Interkosmos program. He stayed in space for about eight days in the Salyut 7 space station, carrying out biomedical and remote sensing research. Furthermore, Sharma received the Soviet Union’s highest medal, the Hero of the Soviet Union, as well as India’s Ashok Chakra.
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Kalpana Chawla
Born in Karnal, India, Kalpana Chawla became a US citizen and later a NASA astronaut. In 1997, she flew on Space Shuttle Columbia (STS-87), becoming the first woman of Indian origin to go to space. Her second mission, STS-107, in 2003 ended in tragedy when the shuttle broke apart during return, killing all seven crew members. Chawla was posthumously awarded the Congressional Space Medal of Honor.
Sunita Williams
Sunita Williams was born in the United States to an Indian-American father. The pioneering astronaut has completed three space missions. Notably, she is a former US Navy officer who became an astronaut. She is the record holder for the most spacewalks by a woman (7) and the most time spent spacewalking (50 hours, 40 minutes). Notably, in 2007, she completed the first marathon in space. Williams has a wealth of experience in space tech, especially as a commander and flight engineer on the ISS, as well as critical scientific research.
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Raja Chari
NASA astronaut and US Air Force officer Raja Chari, whose father is Indian, led the SpaceX Crew-3 mission to the ISS from 2021 to 2022. He spent over 170 days in space and performed a spacewalk during which he quickly fixed a fellow astronaut’s camera. Chari was selected in 2020 for NASA’s Artemis team, training for future missions to the Moon.
Sirisha Bandla
Sirisha Bandla, born in Andhra Pradesh and raised in the US, became the third woman of Indian origin to fly into space. In July 2021, she was part of Virgin Galactic’s Unity 22 suborbital trip. Bandla, an aerospace engineer and corporate leader, carried out her research on the short but historic flight.
Gopi Thotakura
In May 2024, Gopi Thotakura, an Indian-origin entrepreneur and pilot, traveled to space aboard Blue Origin’s NS-25 mission. The suborbital flight made him the first Indian to fly as a space tourist. He carried a small Indian flag, symbolizing his heritage.
Other prominent astronauts
Several other Indian-origin individuals have been selected for space programs. Anil Menon, for example, is part of NASA’s astronaut candidate program, although he has not yet flown. Ravish Malhotra, another Indian Air Force officer, was the backup for Rakesh Sharma in 1984. Of the above astronauts, only Rakesh Sharma and Subhanshu Shukla traveled to space as Indian nationals. The other astronauts were American citizens during their space voyages. Despite their different nations, they all have one thing in common: a strong Indian ancestry and a long history of space exploration.
