 "What is Shubhanshu Shukla carrying to space? Aam ras, halwa and more")
They say food can be a home away from home, and for Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, a few Indian delicacies will be just that — his little piece of comfort as he prepares to head into space.
As part of the Axiom-4 mission to the International Space Station (ISS), Shukla is scheduled to launch from the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida on June 10 at 5:52 pm IST, along with three other astronauts.
Typically, the American space agency follows a standardised food menu for all its space missions, said DK Singh, director of Isro’s Human Spaceflight Centre (Hsfc). But since India is sending an astronaut to the ISS for the very first time, the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) is adding a personal touch by sending some Indian dishes to make Shukla feel a little more at home.
Shukla, an Indian Air Force pilot, will spend 14 days in orbit, making history as the second Indian to travel to space since Rakesh Sharma’s iconic 1984 flight.
So what will be different this time? What is Shukla carrying to space? Here’s a closer look.
Indian space food for astronauts
Ahead of his mission, Shukla will carry specially prepared Indian delicacies with him, a first for any Indian travelling to the ISS. His menu includes aam ras, moong dal halwa, gajar halwa and a selection of rice-based options.
His sister, Suchi Shukla, a science teacher in Lucknow, told Hindustan Times that initially, Shukla wasn’t allowed to carry Indian food on the flight as the cuisine is typically rich in spices, something space menus aren’t used to.
“Since Indian food is high on spices, he wasn’t getting the permission to carry them. But finally, they did allow a few varieties. He is a fitness-freak and highly into yoga, so I am sure he will balance it,” she said.
Now that he has the go-ahead, Shukla is excited to share these flavours with his fellow astronauts, Suchi said.
For international missions, Nasa’s Space Food Systems Laboratory produces freeze-dried food and packages commercially available beverage powders, cookies, candies, and other dried goods that the astronauts select for their menus. However, a taste of home for Indian astronauts was missing.
But now, scientists from Isro and the Defence Research and Development Organisation (Drdo) have developed space-friendly Indian food after years of research.
Apart from Shukla’s menu, the Mysuru-based Defence Food Research Laboratory (Dfrl) has created ready-to-eat dishes like idli, upma, biryani, pulao, dal, vegetable curry, roti and halwa, all tailored for zero gravity.
The meals are packed in special containers and will need to be rehydrated with water before consumption, Singh told The Print.
Officials say the same menu will likely be part of the Gaganyaan crewed mission, India’s first human spaceflight, expected to take off by 2027. Shukla will be on that mission too.
“We have developed a few options. Even if all of it isn’t used for the Gaganyaan mission, it will come in handy for future human spaceflights,” Singh said.
A few photographs, a swan soft toy
Along with food and science experiments, Shukla is also carrying a few mementoes from home. While he isn’t allowed to reveal exactly what personal items he’s bringing, his sister feels her brother is “carrying our photos”.
She adds, “He cannot disclose due to protocol. Once you take anything to space, it becomes a certified object that has travelled to space. So, he will bring those back and it will be memorabilia for us. We will only get to know what those things are once he’s back.”
Among the items confirmed is a small swan soft toy, which will act as the zero-gravity indicator for the Axiom-4 crew. Named ‘Joy’, the swan holds special meaning for all four astronauts, including Shukla.
“In Indian culture, the swan is the vehicle of goddess Saraswati, symbolising wisdom, learning and purity,” he explained during a pre-flight virtual press conference. “Swan is believed to have the rare ability to separate milk from water, representing purity, wisdom and grace.”
“Carrying this symbol reminds me of the delicate balance between knowledge and pressure, and it keeps me grounded in the values I hold dear. I feel inspired, fully prepared and confident as I embark on this journey,” Shukla added.
Prayers and excitement back home
In Shukla’s hometown of Lucknow, the countdown to launch is filled with prayers, pride, and hope. The 39-year-old’s family is watching closely, their hearts full as he prepares to make history.
His father, Shambhu Dayal Shukla, a retired government employee, said the entire family is backing him with confidence and positivity. “The entire family is praying for him, and we are all very confident and positive. We are not scared now. We are happy that his name will go in history books,” he said.
#WATCH | Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh | Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla's father, Shambhu Dayal Shukla says, "We are very proud of him, not just the family, but the whole country. The country's space mission is being sent after 40 years... It feels good that people are talking about my… https://t.co/vUuRuVWzfs pic.twitter.com/0p5Klybk90
— ANI (@ANI) June 9, 2025
His mother, Astha Shukla, told Hindustan Times, “Woh khud bahut excited hai ki woh Bharat ke liye kuch naya karne jaa raha hai. Bas jaldi se mission khatam kar ke wapas aa jaaye.” (He is very excited as he is getting to do something new for India. Hope the mission ends successfully and he comes back soon.)
Subhanshu Shukla's Home in Lucknow has become an inspirational spot for students, they are coming in numbers for selfies and wishes ♥️
— Lucknow Development Index (@lucknow_updates) June 7, 2025
Subhanshu is part of the 4 member team going to space in Axiom Mission 4, a collaboration b/w NASA & SpaceX. pic.twitter.com/tI2EwNB9Un
The astronaut is currently under quarantine before the mission. He joins the family for a video group call every day, along with his wife, Dr Kamna Shubha Shukla, and five-year-old son, who are with him in Florida, Suchi said.
The mission, operated by Texas-based Axiom Space in partnership with SpaceX and Nasa, will transport four astronauts, Mission Commander Peggy Whitson (US), Mission Pilot Shubhanshu Shukla (India), and mission specialists Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski (Poland) and Tibor Kapu (Hungary) to the International Space Station (ISS) for a two-week stay.
With input from agencies
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