Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla is set to make history as he prepares for launch as the Mission Pilot for the Axiom-4 mission to the International Space Station (ISS). He will be the first Indian astronaut in over forty years to participate in a mission to the ISS, joining three international crewmates for this landmark journey.
To bring a taste of home to space, ISRO has crafted a special menu of Indian delicacies for Shukla. The list includes aam ras, moong dal halwa, and gajar ka halwa – all developed through years of collaborative research between ISRO and DRDO. These space-compatible meals are packed in specially engineered containers and require rehydration before being consumed in microgravity.
While scientific research will be a primary focus aboard the ISS, Shukla is also carrying personal items to maintain a connection with home. Though he has not publicly revealed all the items, his sister believes he may be taking family photographs. One confirmed item is a small swan-shaped soft toy named ‘Joy,’ which will serve as the zero-gravity indicator during the mission.
Back home in Lucknow, Shukla’s family is filled with a mix of emotion and pride. “The entire family is praying for him, and we are all very confident and positive. We are not scared now. We are happy that his name will go in history books,” said his father, Shambhu Dayal Shukla.
The mission represents not only a personal milestone for Shukla but also a symbolic leap for India’s presence in international space exploration. With Indian food now reaching outer space and a new astronaut writing his name into the annals of history, the Axiom-4 mission reflects both technological advancement and cultural pride.
