India’s Cosmic Footprints: Indians And Indian-Origin People In Space

In a journey that began four decades ago, Indians and people of Indian origin have steadily carved a niche for themselves in space exploration. From the early days of Soviet-era collaborations to today's cutting-edge commercial missions, their stories are inspiring reminders of human ambition and excellence.

The pioneering leap came in 1984, when Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma became the first Indian to fly to space aboard the Soviet spacecraft Soyuz T-11.

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Rakesh Sharma

Spending nearly eight days aboard the Salyut 7 space station, Sharma conducted scientific and medical experiments. When then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi famously asked how India looked from space, Sharma’s reply“Sare Jahan Se Accha” resonated across generations and became etched in national memory.

Kalpana Chawla

Kalpana Chawla, born in Karnal, India, and later a naturalized U.S. citizen, became the first Indian-origin woman in space in 1997 aboard NASA’s STS-87. A skilled aerospace engineer, Chawla flew a second mission in 2003 aboard STS-107. Tragically, she and her six crewmates perished when the space shuttle Columbia disintegrated during re-entry. Her legacy lives on in academic institutions, spacecraft, and scholarships named in her honor.

Sunita Williams

Another towering figure is Sunita Williams, a U.S. Navy officer and NASA astronaut of Indian-Slovenian descent. She first flew to space in 2006 aboard STS-116, staying aboard the International Space Station for nearly 195 days. On her second mission in 2012, she commanded Expedition 33 and took part in multiple spacewalks, accumulating over 50 hours of extravehicular activity. In 2024, Williams made history again by piloting Boeing's Starliner spacecraft, reinforcing her role as one of NASA’s most experienced astronauts.

Sirisha Bandla

In a breakthrough for commercial spaceflight, Sirisha Bandla, born in Andhra Pradesh and raised in the U.S., flew aboard Virgin Galactic’s Unity 22 in 2021. As Vice President of Government Affairs at Virgin Galactic, Bandla participated in the suborbital mission as a researcher, making her the second India-born woman to reach space albeit briefly.

Raja Chari

Joining this elite league more recently is Raja Chari, a U.S. Air Force test pilot of Indian descent. He flew aboard SpaceX’s Crew-3 mission to the ISS in November 2021, spending 176 days conducting experiments and spacewalks. A key member of NASA’s Artemis program, Chari is expected to play a major role in future lunar missions.

Shubhanshu Shukla

Most recently, in June 2025, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, an Indian Air Force test pilot, became the second Indian citizen and the first Indian on the International Space Station. Flying aboard Axiom Mission 4, Shukla is conducting a range of microgravity experiments, including cultivating methi and moong dal, muscle development in space, and studying the resilience of tardigrades. His mission marks a major milestone for India as it prepares for its indigenous crewed mission, Gaganyaan, in the coming years.