A spoonful of halwa in space: Shubhanshu Shukla carries the taste of India to ISS

When Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla boarded the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on June 25, he was not just stepping into the pages of history as the first Indian to reach the International Space Station. He was also carrying something far more personal: two types of halwa and a bottle of mango nectar.

As part of the Axiom Mission 4, Shukla is spending 14 days aboard the ISS, conducting experiments on behalf of ISRO and NASA. Alongside scientific equipment and hardware, his personal food preferences were included in the payload. Among them were space-safe versions of gajar ka halwa, moong dal halwa, and mango nectar.

These dishes were specially adapted for space travel in collaboration with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), the Department of Biotechnology, and NASA. The idea was to give Shukla not just nourishment but also a sense of comfort and cultural continuity while in orbit.

According to his sister, Suchi Shukla, these desserts were childhood favourites. He hoped his crewmates would also get to experience the richness of Indian food. The halwas, both slow-cooked and rich in ghee, were not only selected for their taste but also because their dense textures and high caloric value make them suitable for consumption in microgravity.

Shukla’s fondness for mango nectar also found its way onto the mission menu. Sweet and familiar, it offers a flavourful contrast to the often bland and rehydrated meals astronauts typically consume.

Apart from enjoying familiar flavours, Shukla is also leading India-focused food experiments. These include studying how seeds such as methi (fenugreek) and moong (green gram) behave and sprout in microgravity. The results could inform how Indian ingredients might support future long-duration missions.

Shukla's spaceflight is part of a growing collaboration between India and global space agencies. He was selected for astronaut training in 2019 as part of ISRO’s Gaganyaan programme, which is scheduled to launch in 2027. The Ax-4 mission is a preparatory step in that direction.

During his time in orbit, Shukla will conduct a range of scientific experiments and is expected to interact with school students, space scientists, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Back on Earth, his school in Lucknow, City Montessori School, held a public watch party to mark the launch. His journey from those classrooms to the space station has become a source of pride not only for his family and city but also for the country.

For now, though, Shukla is orbiting Earth at 7.5 kilometers per second, floating through scientific experiments and meal pouches, including one filled with slow-cooked halwa from home. In a moment captured after reaching orbit, he said, “It is not just the start of my journey to the ISS, but also of India’s human spaceflight. I want each one of you to be part of this journey.”