Rupa Publications released Sky Was Never the Limit: The Story of Shubhanshu Shukla, the first biography of Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, India’s celebrated astronaut and Indian Air Force fighter pilot. Authored by documentary filmmaker Narayan R, the book traces Shukla’s extraordinary journey from his roots in Lucknow to commanding the Axiom-4 private space mission, which docked at the International Space Station (ISS) on June 26, 2025, making him the second Indian astronaut after Rakesh Sharma’s 1984 mission.
Spanning seven chapters, including titles like From Lucknow to Low Earth Orbit and A Nation’s Pride, A Billion Hopes, the biography offers an intimate look at Shukla’s life as a test pilot and spacefarer. It weaves emotional narratives from his family, mentors, and wife, Kamna, his childhood sweetheart, highlighting the determination that propelled him to carry the aspirations of a billion Indians. The book captures both the technical brilliance of his ISS mission and the personal resilience behind his stoic demeanor.
Priced at Rs 295, Sky Was Never the Limit is available online and in stores, offering readers a compelling glimpse into India’s elite aviation community and the historic journey of a man who defied gravity to inspire a nation.
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