Why a white swan named ‘Joy’ is flying to space with Shubhanshu Shukla in the Axiom-4 mission
Thursday, 12 June 2025 () Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla will become the first Indian astronaut to reach the ISS since 1984, aboard the Axiom-4 mission. Accompanying him is ‘Joy’, a white plush swan serving as the crew’s zero-gravity indicator and a symbolic tribute to Indian culture. Representing the vahana of Goddess Saraswati, Joy blends spirituality with space tradition. The mission highlights India’s growing role in global space exploration, backed by ISRO and SpaceX, and underscores the soft power of cultural symbolism in scientific frontiers.
After a gap of 41 years since Rakesh Sharma made history, India returns to space in a big way. Meet Shubhanshu Shukla, the first Indian astronaut to head to the International Space Station (ISS) as..
SpaceX’s highly anticipated ninth Starship test flight ended in failure after a series of critical malfunctions mid-mission. Launched on May 27, 2025, from Starbase in Texas, the spacecraft initially..
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is set to join the Axiom-4 mission to the ISS on June 11, marking a milestone for India’s space journey. The mission was... IndiaTimes
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, part of the Axiom-4 mission, will carry IISc-designed postcards to the ISS, honoring India's space aspirations and scientific... IndiaTimes
Indian-origin food scientist Professor Suresh Pillai is revolutionising space cuisine, ensuring astronauts enjoy nutritious and culturally relevant meals. As... IndiaTimes
Thursday, 12 June 2025 ()
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