Latest news with #Axion4
News18
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- News18
From Gajar Ka Halwa To Joy, Shubhanshu Shukla Takes A Slice Of India To Space
Last Updated: 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. top videos View all 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.
Time of India
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Axiom mission: Why is there a baby swan toy with Shubhanshu Shukla in spacecraft?
After creating history for India, Indian Air Force Group captain and astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla while speaking from space revealed the reason for choosing a baby swan toy as a zero gravity indicator. "It's a swan. A swan symbolises wisdom. This means much more than just a zero gravity indicator, it carries a deeper meaning than what we usually attach to it," said Shukla. "I wasn't feeling very great when we got shot in the vacuum, I have been sleeping a lot," revealed Shukla in a live telecast of Axiom . by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Kuala Lumpur: Unsold Furniture Liquidation 2024 (Prices May Surprise You) Unsold Furniture | Search Ads Learn More Undo ALSO READ: Shubhanshu Shukla Axiom-4 mission: Lucknow boy charts India's return to space after 40 years on SpaceX aircraft Agencies What is Zero-G indicator in space missions? A Zero-G indicator is an object (often a soft toy) used to visualize the transition into weightlessness during a crewed space mission. The tradition of using a soft toy as a Zero-G indicator has been a longstanding one in the history of human spaceflight. The concept traces back to Yuri Gagarin's pioneering mission in 1961 when a small doll accompanied him to detect weightlessness. SpaceX, continuing this practice, has seen astronauts bring plushies ranging from dinosaurs to Earth-themed characters. On Axion 4, Joy will serve this same role. Live Events Why the swan? The swan, known for its grace and elegance, carries allegorical meanings across cultures. In India, it symbolizes wisdom and purity, representing the pursuit of truth. In Poland, the swan stands for purity, loyalty, and resilience, while in Hungary, it epitomizes loyalty, grace, and the beauty of nature. By choosing a swan as the zero-g indicator, the Ax-4 crew celebrates the diversity of their cultures, united in the shared human experience of space exploration. Ax-4 mission The Ax-4 mission is going to be conducting major research. The research complement includes around 60 scientific studies and activities representing 31 countries, including the U.S., India, Poland, Hungary, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Nigeria, UAE, and nations across Europe. This will be the most research and science-related activities conducted on an Axiom Space mission aboard the International Space Station to date NASA and ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) are collaborating to launch several scientific investigations. These studies include examining muscle regeneration, growth of sprouts and edible microalgae, survival of tiny aquatic organisms, and human interaction with electronic displays in microgravity. The first private astronaut mission to the station, Axiom Mission 1, lifted off in April 2022 for a 17-day mission aboard the orbiting laboratory. The second private astronaut mission to the station, Axiom Mission 2, also was commanded by Whitson and launched in May 2023 with four private astronauts who spent eight days in orbit. The most recent private astronaut mission, Axiom Mission 3, launched in January 2024; the crew spent 18 days docked to the space station. The International Space Station is a convergence of science, technology, and human innovation that enables research not possible on Earth. For more than 24 years, NASA has supported a continuous human presence aboard the orbiting laboratory, through which astronauts have learned to live and work in space for extended periods of time.
