New Delhi: The Axiom-4 Mission, a collaborative international human spaceflight led by the US-based Axiom Space, has been postponed by two days to 10 June. But when Indian Air Force Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla and his three colleagues fly Tuesday, they will be joined by a “fifth crew member”—Joy, a plush version of a swan, which has a cultural significance in all the countries represented in the mission.
The air force group captain will also carry a special souvenir in honour of the contribution of wing commander Rakesh Sharma, his mentor and predecessor in space travel.
At an Axiom-4 pre-launch media interaction Tuesday, the miniaturised plushie representing the swan sat comfortably on Shukla’s lap. Introducing Joy, as the “fifth crew” of AX-4, American astronaut and mission commander Peggy Whitson said a swan held a cultural connection for all the countries being represented in the mission.
“We believe Joy is the perfect representation of all the qualities that the mission imbibes,” Whitson said.
Shukla said that in the Hindu mythology, the swan represents the goddess Saraswati’s vehicle. In the Indian context, the swan also represents the greater values of wisdom, knowledge and clarity of thought and purpose.
In Poland, another country being represented in the mission, the swan is a symbol of grace, beauty and wisdom, and in Hungary, many traditional folklores have connected the swan to journeys beyond the Earth’s realm.
Joy will be the mission’s mascot.
The primary task of Joy would be to test zero gravity conditions during the mission. An object is usually carried in all human spaceflight to test if astronauts have reached zero gravity conditions.
The Axiom-4 mission, which was earlier scheduled for 29 May and postponed to 8 June, will now take flight on 10 June at 5.52pm IST. The launch will take place from the NASA Kennedy Space Centre in Florida.
India’s Shukla, who is the designated pilot for the mission, is also one of the four astronauts who have been training for India’s first human spaceflight, Gaganyaan, which is expected to take flight in the first half of 2027.
Shukla will be accompanied by mission commander Whitson of the US, mission specialist Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski from Poland, and mission specialist Tibor Kapu of Hungary. His colleague, Prashant B Nair, is the backup crew for the mission.
The astronauts will be spending 14 days in the International Space Station to complete the mission objectives.
With nearly 60 scientific studies and activities representing 31 countries, including the US, India, Poland, Hungary, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Nigeria, UAE, and nations across Europe, this mission is being touted as the most research and science-related activities to ever be conducted on an Axiom Space mission aboard the ISS to date. This underscores the mission’s global significance and collaborative nature to advance microgravity research in low-Earth orbit.
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Souvenir to honour India’s first human in space
Listing out the itinerary for his 14-day stay at the International Space Station, Shukla said he will be carrying souvenirs representing various aspects of India’s culture and beliefs.
But one of these items is extremely close to his heart, he said. A “surprise gift” in honour of the first Indian to travel to space, retired IAF wing commander Rakesh Sharma. “I want to keep this a surprise. I will reveal the details after the mission,” Shukla said.
He said while Sharma has been a mentor and a big support in his journey to space, he will not be present for the Axiom-4 launch on 10 June.
“Unfortunately, he will not be here for the launch, but I am constantly in touch with him and I know I have his support every step of the way,” he said.
(Edited by Ajeet Tiwari)
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