Meet Joy, the fifth astronaut travelling with India's Shubhanshu Shukla

India Today

9 hours ago

Space just got a little softer, and a lot more cuter. When the Axiom-4 crew launches into orbit on June 25, 2025 from Nasa's Kennedy Space Center, they won't just be taking high-tech equipment and scientific ambitions, they'll be taking Joy. Literally!Joy is a five-inch, plush baby swan who's set to become the zero-gravity indicator for the international mission. But don't be fooled by it's fluffy exterior—this little bird is carrying big meaning.advertisementShe's the emotional heartbeat of the mission, a soft, floating symbol of shared culture, collaboration, and childlike wonder.
The swan is known for its grace and elegance. (Photo: Axiom)
A TOY WITH A TALE
The tradition of flying a toy to mark the moment gravity gives way to weightlessness began with Yuri Gagarin, and it has since become a beloved ritual in space missions. These zero-G indicators are often cute, but they're always chosen with care—and Joy is no exception.WHY A SWAN?For astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, the swan carries deep cultural weight. In Indian mythology, it's the sacred vehicle of Goddess Saraswati, the deity of wisdom. The swan is said to possess the mythical ability to separate milk from water — symbolising discernment, purity, and wisdom. Quite fitting for a mission that requires all three.advertisementBut the symbolism doesn't stop there.Every crew member comes from a different country—India, Hungary, Poland, and the USA—and somehow, the swan resonated with all of them. It represented elegance, unity, strength, and grace.
Shubhanshu Shukla will launch to space on June 11. (Photo: Axiom)
Hungarian astronaut Tibor Kapu even suggested the name Joy, capturing the shared spirit of the mission and the emotional lift-off it symbolises.GRAVITY IS GONEOnce the spacecraft reaches orbit, Joy will float freely, signalling to the crew—and the world—that gravity has officially ended. It's a simple moment, but a powerful one. Cameras will roll, hearts will flutter, and this tiny swan will silently declare: 'We've made it.'Commander Peggy Whitson, a veteran astronaut from the US, said it best: 'Joy celebrates our differences, but also what brings us together—our passion for space, and our belief in something greater than ourselves.'Beyond the ScienceOf course, the Axiom-4 mission is packed with science experiments, spacewalks, and international collaboration. But Joy adds a human layer to it all. It's a reminder that space exploration isn't just about rockets and research—it's about emotion, identity, legacy, and the stories we carry with us beyond Earth.In a spacecraft filled with pressure gauges and navigation tools, a five-inch swan might seem out of place. But Joy fits right in—because space isn't just for science. It's also for symbols, softness, and soul.- EndsTune InMust Watch