Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, a skilled officer of the Indian Air Force, will soon become one of the few Indians to travel to space. He will join the ranks of Indian astronauts like Rakesh Sharma, who flew to space in 1984. Shukla is set to visit the International Space Station (ISS) as part of Axiom Space's Ax-4 mission, in collaboration with the U.S.

On June 11, Shukla and three other astronauts will launch from Kennedy Space Centre in Florida for a two-week mission. They will travel to the ISS, an orbiting space laboratory. If the mission is successful, Shukla will be the first Indian to set foot on the ISS and the second Indian to travel to space after Rakesh Sharma’s journey to the Salyut 7 space station. This mission marks a proud moment for India’s space program.

For the first time ever, Indian food will be served in space

Indian Air Force Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla will carry moong dal halwa, Indian rice, and mango nectar to space as he becomes the first Indian to travel to the International Space Station (ISS). His journey is scheduled for June 11 as part of the Axiom Mission 4, a private space mission jointly undertaken by NASA and ISRO.

The mission will launch from Kennedy Space Centre in Florida on a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule. Shukla will be joined by astronauts from the US, Poland, and Hungary and will spend 14 days aboard the ISS, conducting experiments related to agriculture, food, and human biology.

According to ISRO, the idea of carrying Indian food is to bring comfort and familiarity to astronauts in space. The inclusion of moong dal halwa, a traditional Indian dessert, shows a cultural touch in the high-tech mission. In the past, Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams carried samosas and fish curry on her mission to the ISS.

Shukla, a highly experienced test pilot, is also a top contender for India’s Gaganyaan mission, the country’s first indigenous human spaceflight program. His journey is expected to provide valuable experience in microgravity, spaceflight operations, and emergency protocols.

The mission marks India’s growing presence in global space exploration, with ISRO officials and Union Minister Jitendra Singh calling it a major step towards making India a leader in space technology.