Indian Air Force pilot and astronaut, Group Captain Shubanshu Shukla, is all set to become the second Indian to fly into space, making history. He will go for the International Space Station (ISS) on Wednesday, June 11, for the Axiom-4 mission aboard the SpaceX rocket and Crew Dragon. Subhanshu, along with three astronauts, will launch from the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida at 8 AM ET. But can you guess which Indian specialities he is taking with him to space? Here you go!
Group Captain Shubanshu Shukla’s Space Luggage
Amid this exciting mission, a member of Shukla’s family revealed that he will be carrying certain Indian delicacies. This will include our favourite aamras, moong dal halwa, and gajar ka halwa. His sister, Suchi Shukla, a science teacher in Lucknow, told NDTV Profit that since Indian food is high in spices, they weren’t allowing him to take it, but finally allowed a few varieties.
She added, “He is a fitness freak and highly into yoga, so I am sure he will balance it.” This sounds so exciting! Shubhanshu Shukla, or ‘Shux’ as he is affectionately known, will command the ISS from SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft. He will fly with three other astronauts as part of the Indo-US mission: Dr. Peggy Whitson from the United States as mission commander, Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski from Poland, and Tibor Kapu from Hungary as mission experts.
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Shukla, as a pilot, will assist in launch, docking, and re-entry procedures. On board the ISS, he will undertake seven India-specific space experiments. These include studying ‘water bears’, or microscopic organisms, to learn how living things adapt to microgravity.
Are you excited for this historic event? Let us know!
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