Overview
- President Droupadi Murmu presented the medal during the 77th Republic Day ceremony in New Delhi.
- Shukla served as pilot on Axiom-4, becoming the first Indian to visit the ISS and the second Indian in space during an 18-day mission in 2025.
- Officials and ISRO scientists say the mission yielded operational lessons and data for Gaganyaan, targeted for 2027, and future Indian orbital infrastructure.
- Group Captain Prashanth Balakrishnan Nair, Shukla’s Axiom-4 backup and a Gaganyaan astronaut-designate, received the Kirti Chakra.
- The Axiom-4 flight was run by Axiom Space with participation from NASA, the European Space Agency and ISRO, highlighting expanding international and commercial cooperation.