From Gajar Ka Halwa To Joy, Shubhanshu Shukla Takes A Slice Of India To Space

News18

3 hours ago

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Shubhanshu Shukla, in his address, showcased a cute little soft toy, which he has carried to space with him.
With Shubhanshu Shukla becoming the second Indian to travel to space with the successful launch of the Axiom-4 mission, jubilant Indians have been all enthusiastic and in a celebratory mood. Following the liftoff aboard SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket, Shubhanshu Shukla, in his first message, sent his greetings and also shared his experience with fellow astronauts. Axiom Space shared the video of the astronauts, where Shukla opened up about India's journey to space after 41 years.
As the video gained traction, viewers couldn't help but notice a white-coloured swan plush toy beside Shukla. Quickly holding it up, the group captain introduced everyone to 'Joy.' He went on to explain the significance of the toy and continued, 'You know this is a swan. It looks really cute, but we have a very important swan in our Indian culture. The swan symbolises wisdom. It also has the ability to discern… what needs to be focused on and what does not."
Noting that the toy is not just a Zero-G indicator, Shukla stated that it means a lot more and holds certain symbolism in Hungary, Poland, and even India. 'So I think it looks like a coincidence, but it is not that. It has more meaning," he continued. With that said, it seems like the feathered friend is more than a cute space companion for Shubhanshu Shukla and is already capturing both hearts and headlines.
What Is A Zero-G Indicator?
It is an object, often a soft toy, that is used to visualise the transition into weightlessness during a crewed space mission. The practice of keeping a soft toy as an indicator has been a longstanding one in the history of human spaceflight.
It traces back to the time when Yuri Gagarin went on a pioneering mission in 1961, carrying a small doll to detect weightlessness. SpaceX has continued the practice, joining in the part where astronauts often bring plushies ranging from popular characters to dinosaurs. For Axion 4, Joy is expected to serve the same purpose by detaching from its tether to float and subtly confirm that the spacecraft and its human crew have officially entered microgravity.
Why Did Shubhanshu Shukla Choose A Swan Toy To Space?
The Axiom-4 crew, representing India, Hungary, Poland, and the United States, have collectively decided to take a swan toy as their Zero-G Indicator. The bird deeply connects to Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla's Indian roots. In Hindu mythology, the swan is considered the divine vehicle of Goddess Saraswati.
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The crew of Axiom-4 have chosen a white baby swan plush toy named "Joy" as the Zero-G indicator for this mission!
Meanwhile, Joy the soft toy is not the only item that Shukla is carrying in the space. Along with some scientific instruments, he has taken some popular Indian sweets like gazar ka halwa, moong dal halwa, and mango nectar to share with his fellow astronauts.