Why Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla carrying swan doll to space?

Astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, who will pilot the Axiom-4 mission that has been rescheduled for June 10, said he would carry the hopes and dreams of 1.4 billion Indians into space.

Advertisement

Urging people to pray for the mission’s success, he said, “This mission is a milestone for India’s space programme and I request India to pray for its success. Even stars are attainable, Jai Hind! We will do amazing things for 14 days in orbit.”

Speaking during the crew’s media interaction from the quarantine centre in Florida, Shukla called the preparation for the human space programme a journey of growth and discovery. “I reflect on the path that has brought me here. From diverse systems to advanced platforms, this training has been intense but fruitful. Your (India) strength and support has been my anchor. The crew members are truly remarkable teammates. I carry the hopes and hearts of a billion hearts,” he said.

Shukla is carrying along souvenirs crafted by the National Institute of Design. “From the orbit, I will be speaking live with students and members of India's space industry. I hope to ignite curiosity in young minds,” he said.

Responding to a query whether he would speak to Prime Minister Narendra Modi from space the way Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma (retd) interacted with them PM Indira Gandhi, Shukla said there would be an interaction with VIPs. He, however, did not name any VIP.

Sharma flew to space in 1984 and Shukla said he was in constant touch with him. “Rakesh Sharma was like a mentor and has been a guide to me right from the selection process. He very well understands the challenges we face. I speak to him regularly. I am carrying something for him to space, which will be a surprise,” he said.

Shukla said observing the earth from a vantage point and floating in microgravity excited him.

The Indian astronaut will carry delicacies such as mango nectar, moong dal halwa and carrot halwa to space. “The food will be shared with colleagues. Going to space will be a mixed bag of emotions. I will miss my family and friends,” he said.

The crew will spend 14 days in orbit and carry a swan doll as a sign of zero gravity indicator. Zero-G indicators serve as a visual confirmation for astronauts and observers on earth that the spacecraft has reached space and is experiencing a state of weightlessness.

Swan holds religious significance for Indians. "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 said.

Peggy Whitson, a veteran NASA astronaut who is the commander of the space programme, said the mission would focus on science, technology and outreach activities. “These experiments will benefit people on earth. Our crew underwent rigorous training. We have trained for every scenario bonded as a team. We will be engaging with students around the world. Every mission is different and every crew make the difference. We want to see the impact of scientific experiments,” she said.

The mission crew also includes specialists Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski from Poland and Tibor Kapu from Hungary. The crew will lift off aboard Dragon on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre in Florida.

The launch was earlier scheduled for June 8. In a statement, NASA said, “This shift allows teams to account for predicted inclement weather during the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft transport in addition to completing final processing of the spacecraft ahead of launch.”