Axiom-4 Mission: From 'Gajar ka halwa' to 'aamras', here's what astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla is carrying to ISS; find out why
As India is all set to make history with Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, who is going to the ISS under Axiom Space's Ax-4 mission, his family members have revealed what Indian food items he is going to carry with him to the ISS.
India is all set to make a historic return to space with Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, who is going to the ISS under Axiom Space's Ax-4 mission. Amidst the excitement for the mission, a family member of the Group Captain, Shubhanshu, revealed that he will be carrying a few Indian delicacies with him.
Shukla will be travelling to the ISS with three crew members, marking a major milestone for India. During his space travel, Shubhanshu has planned to carry a few Indian dishes along with him. Since Indian food is usually quite spicy, the pilot received the approval to only carry a few sweet dishes and non-spicy items.
The Axiom-4 mission (AX-4) to the International Space Station (ISS), which was scheduled on June 10 at 8.22 a.m. ET from Launch Complex 39A at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) Kennedy Space Centre in Florida was postponed and will now be launched on June 11 due to weather conditions.
Shubhanshu Shukla is to carry 'Gajar ka halwa' in ISS
Shukla is set to fly with other astronauts on Wednesday, June 11. Well, during his travels, he takes food items such as moong dal halwa, rice and aamras.
According to HT, who quoted his sister saying, "He is carrying moong dal halwa, gajar ka halwa, aamras and rice¡. Since Indian food is high in spices, he wasn¡¯t getting permission to carry them. But finally, they did allow a few varieties." According to ToI, spicy foods are not allowed on the ISS due to the potential for digestive discomfort and the difficulty of handling and consuming them in microgravity.
Credit: X | @IndianTechGuide
She also shared that he has been quarantined for a fortnight now, but once a day, he joins a group call with his family.
Who is Shubhanshu Shukla?
Shubhanshu Shukla is a 40-year-old astronaut, among four other astronauts selected by ISRO for the Gaganyan human spaceflight programme. He holds an M.Tech degree in aerospace engineering from IISc Bangalore.
Shukla has over 2,000 flight hours on aircraft, including the Su-30 MKI, MiG, Jaguar, and Hawk.
India returns to space after 41 years ???
¡ª Kwisatz Haderach (@Zoomerjeet) June 8, 2025
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla will be representing India on the Axiom-4 mission and will be conducting food and nutritional experiments on the ISS. He is also the Mission pilot. pic.twitter.com/XIFmzsEBvp
What will Shubhanshu Shukla do in space?
Shukla will be assisting Whitson in operating the Crew Dragon spacecraft as a pilot. Along with this, he will be looking after the launch, docking, and re-entry procedures.
Once the astronauts are on board the ISS, the crew will spend up to 14 days conducting over 60 science experiments across the fields, including material science, biology and earth observation.
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Sneha is a dedicated writer with a passion for storytelling that enthrals and inspires the readers. With a background in Health and Wellness, she brings a unique perspective to every narrative. As a journalist, she aims to find solutions with authenticity and credibility.
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