Gajar Halwa And Mango In Space: What Shubhanshu Shukla Will Eat And Do On ISS

Last Updated:June 26, 2025, 18:14 IST

Shubhanshu Shukla’s spacecraft completed a multi-hour orbital journey before locking onto the ISS.

Symbolism aside, Shukla’s mission has important practical uses. (File pic)

In a milestone moment for Indian space exploration, Shubhanshu Shukla successfully docked with the International Space Station (ISS) as part of the Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4), becoming the first Indian in 41 years to venture into human spaceflight since Rakesh Sharma’s iconic journey in 1984.

Launched aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, Shubhanshu Shukla’s spacecraft completed a multi-hour orbital journey before locking onto the ISS. For the next 15 days, Shubhanshu Shukla will live and work aboard the space station.

Read more: Shubhanshu Shukla Scripts History, Becomes First Indian To Enter International Space Station

What Shubhanshu Shukla Will Eat In Space?

Among Shubhanshu Shukla’s personal cargo are three carefully prepared Indian treats- mango nectar, gajar ka halwa and moong dal halwa. These traditional dishes, developed by ISRO’s Defence Institute of Bio-Defence Technologies (DIBT), are specially engineered to endure the harsh conditions of space. According to Dr. R Kumar, head of DIBT, the foods are preservative-free, commercially sterile and can be stored for over a year at room temperature.

What Will Shubhanshu Shukla Do At ISS?

Shubhanshu Shukla is tasked with leading a series of scientific experiments that could help shape the future of sustainable space living. One of his key assignments involves studying edible microalgae to understand how space radiation and microgravity affect its nutritional content.

In another experiment, he is exposing six varieties of Indian crop seeds to space conditions, with a focus on identifying potential genetic, microbial and nutritional changes. The results from these trials could prove crucial in developing future space agriculture systems.

Before liftoff, Shubhanshu Shukla had said, “I carry not just instruments and equipment, I carry the hopes and dreams of a billion hearts."

Location :

Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

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