Indian flavours hit orbit: Shukla packs curry, rice and mango nectar for the ISS

New Delhi: The Indian tricolour soared once again into Earth’s orbit on Wednesday, as Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla of the Indian Air Force lifted off aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket, carrying with him not just scientific ambition, but also curry, rice, and the dreams of 1.4 billion Indians.

Shukla’s mission, part of Axiom Space’s Ax-4, a privately chartered spaceflight to the International Space Station (ISS), marks India's return to human spaceflight after more than four decades. He follows in the footsteps of Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma, who became the first Indian in space in 1984.

Now, 41 years later, Shukla is the first Indian astronaut to journey to the ISS and the moment wasn’t lost on him.

“Namaskar, my dear countrymen; we have reached space after 41 years. It was a great ride,” he said, just 10 minutes into orbit.

“We are now circling the Earth at 7.5 km per second. I have the Indian tricolour on my shoulders, it reminds me that I’m not alone; I carry all of you with me.”

A taste of India in orbit

Onboard the Dragon spacecraft alongside Shukla is a taste of home Indian curry and rice, accompanied by mango nectar, packed as part of a cultural outreach effort. The meal joins a menu celebrating all three nations involved in the mission: spicy Hungarian paprika paste and freeze-dried Polish pierogies are also on board, creating a multicultural culinary experience 400 km above Earth.

For Shukla, born in Lucknow and trained as a test pilot, this mission is about more than just personal achievement. “I truly believe that even though I, as an individual, am travelling to space, this is the journey of 1.4 billion people,” he said before launch.

Rakesh Sharma’s wishes

Shukla had a special message waiting from Rakesh Sharma himself, who couldn’t attend the launch in Florida. “Greetings from India… have a fun time guys,” Sharma said in a video message.

A global crew, a shared dream

Shukla is joined by Hungary’s Tibor Kapu, Poland’s Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski, and veteran American astronaut Peggy Whitson, who commands the mission. Together, they represent a return to orbit for three countries after decades.