Shubhanshu Shukla's space insurance: World's most expensive coverage
India's first astronaut to the ISS, Shubhanshu Shukla, is making headlines for having a space insurance policy worth over ₹200 crore—possibly the priciest ever.
The huge sum covers everything from his intense training and launch to his time on the ISS and safe return, reflecting just how risky and expensive space travel really is.
Why the high premium?
Space missions come with serious hazards—there's no backup if something goes wrong up there.
That's why premiums are sky-high, often 10-20% of what's insured.
While most astronaut policies range from ₹40 crore to ₹160 crore, Shukla's is part of India's $65 million mission package that also covers his training, travel, and support.
What does the astronaut's policy cover?
Shukla's policy protects against death or serious injury at any stage of the mission, delays or cancelations, damage to key equipment, and even injuries during official training.
But it doesn't cover issues caused by negligence or war.
Only specialized insurers like Lloyd's of London handle these high-stakes policies—because in space, you really can't leave anything to chance.