Shubhanshu Shukla: Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla will take a few Indian specialties with him as comforting reminders of home during his space journey. After all, food often serves as a connection to one’s roots, even in space. Shukla, along with three other astronauts, will launch from the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida on June 10 at 5:52 p.m. IST. He is part of the Axiom-4 mission to the International Space Station (ISS).

DK Singh, head of ISRO’s Human Spaceflight Centre (HSFC), explained that NASA typically provides a uniform menu for all space missions. However, to help Shukla feel more at home, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has arranged to send Indian food. This marks India’s first time sending an astronaut to the ISS. Shukla, a pilot in the Indian Air Force, will become the second Indian to fly into space since Rakesh Sharma’s historic journey in 1984. He will spend 14 days in orbit.

So, what makes this mission different? What exactly is Shukla taking with him into space? Let’s take a closer look.

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Space Food for Astronauts:

For the first time ever, an Indian visiting the ISS will carry specially prepared Indian cuisine. Shubhanshu Shukla will take dishes like aam ras, moong dal halwa, gajar halwa, and a variety of rice-based meals on his expedition.

Initially, officials did not allow Shukla to bring Indian food, as it typically contains strong spices that space menus usually avoid. His sister, Suchi Shukla, a science teacher in Lucknow, shared this with the media. She said, “He wasn’t getting permission to carry the food because Indian dishes are heavily spiced. But eventually, they allowed a few types.” She added, “He’s really into yoga and fitness, so I’m confident he’ll balance it well.”

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