Shubhanshu Shukla’s Space Mission: From Halwa To Swan, What He’s Taking On Ax-4

After more than forty years, India is set to reenter the realm of human spaceflight as Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla prepares to launch aboard Axiom Mission 4 (Ax 4) on June 25. The Indian Air Force pilot will travel to the International Space Station (ISS) as part of a multinational private crew, carrying not just scientific instruments but personal items that reflect his roots, inspiration, and cultural pride.

A Taste of Home: Indian Sweets in Space

While astronauts are provided with standard space food, Shukla has chosen to carry a few personal favorites from home. "There will be plenty of food to eat in space, but I will be carrying mango nectar, carrot halwa (gajar ka halwa), and moong dal halwa with me," he told the BBC during a prelaunch press conference. These treats are meant to bring comfort and familiarity and Shukla also hopes to share them with his fellow astronauts to create a meaningful cultural exchange aboard the ISS.

A Tribute to His Mentor

Shukla's journey is closely tied to his admiration for Rakesh Sharma, India's first astronaut. Born in 1985 and raised on stories of Sharma's spaceflight, Shukla revealed that he is carrying a personal souvenir for his mentor. "He has been advising me on many things including how to prepare for this mission," said Shukla. While he did not disclose the details of the memento he noted it will be revealed as a surprise once he returns from space.

Joy the Swan: A Symbol of Wisdom and

Joining Shukla on board the spacecraft will be a small white toy swan named Joy. The toy will serve as the mission's zero gravity indicator floating freely once the capsule reaches orbit. But Joy holds deeper meaning. In Indian tradition the swan represents wisdom and is the vehicle of Goddess Saraswati. In Polish and Hungarian cultures it symbolizes purity resilience and loyalty. With crew members from India Poland and Hungary Joy was chosen as a shared symbol of cultural unity and the strength of international cooperation.

The Ax 4 mission is scheduled to launch at 12:01 PM IST on June 25 from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Shukla will fly aboard the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule launched by a Falcon 9 rocket. The mission is a collaboration between Axiom Space NASA ISRO and the European Space Agency. His fellow crewmates include veteran American astronaut Peggy Whitson Slawosz Uznanski Wisniewski from Poland and Tibor Kapu from Hungary.

Reflecting on the emotional weight of his journey Shukla said "I carry not just instruments and equipment I carry hopes and dreams of a billion hearts."