Today marks a golden chapter in India's space history. After more than four decades since Rakesh Sharma's historic flight in 1984, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla has launched into space as part of the international Axiom-4 (Ax-4) private space mission. But along with cutting-edge equipment and scientific experiments, Shukla has also taken a piece of India with him — in culture, flavors, and emotions.
At exactly 12:01 PM IST, the Axiom-4 mission successfully lifted off from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Commanded by veteran astronaut Peggy Whitson, the team includes India’s Shubhanshu Shukla, Poland’s Slawoje Uznanski-Wisniewski, and Hungary’s Tibor Kapu.
In a heartwarming gesture that blends science with sentiment, Shukla revealed that his travel kit contains mango juice, moong dal halwa, and carrot halwa — traditional Indian delicacies that carry the warmth of home. “I’m not just carrying essentials, I’m carrying the dreams of billions of Indians. And yes, carrot halwa is also with me,” he said with a smile before the launch.
Among the most touching items Shukla has brought onboard is a five-inch soft toy swan named ‘Joy’. More than a good luck charm, Joy will serve a practical purpose — once it begins to float, it will signal that the spacecraft has entered zero gravity. The symbolic significance of the swan goes deeper: in India, the swan is the vehicle of Goddess Saraswati, representing knowledge and purity. Similarly, in Poland and Hungary, the swan symbolizes purity, beauty, and loyalty — making Joy a unifying cultural emblem for the mission.
Shubhanshu Shukla’s journey is not just a scientific milestone but also a cultural one. He carries not only India's technological pride but its emotional and spiritual heritage. His participation in the Ax-4 mission represents a confluence of tradition and modernity — a tribute to both India’s rich legacy and its ambitious future.
This mission, uniting three nations and blending scientific pursuit with cultural identity, is being hailed as a beacon of hope and inspiration — not just for India, but for the world. As Shukla soars into space with his carrot halwa and a swan named Joy, he takes with him the soul of a billion people and the dreams of generations to come.