With the launch of the Axiom-4 mission being a success, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is now the second Indian to travel to space, and this is creating excitement across the country. After a launch aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket, Shukla issued his first message from space, sending greetings and talking about his experience with other astronauts. In a video posted by Axiom Space, he spoke of India’s return to space after an interval of 41 years.
One of the most touching scenes on the video was quickly seen by people, a white plush swan drifting next to Shukla. Grasping it, the astronaut presented the toy as ‘Joy’, providing depth to the mission. “You know that this is a swan. It is very cute, but we have a very significant swan in our Indian society. The swan represents wisdom. It also possesses the capability of distinguishing…what should be given attention to and what is not,” he clarified.
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Not merely a visual indicator, Shukla further explained that Joy is not just a Zero-G signal. “So I think it appears like a coincidence, but it is not that. It has more significance,” he said, pointing out the cultural significance of the swan not just in India, but also in Hungary and Poland.
What is a Zero-G Indicator?
A Zero-G indicator is generally a plush toy or item that is carried on space missions to provide a visible indication when the spacecraft reaches microgravity.
The practice started in 1961 when Yuri Gagarin took a small doll on his pioneering flight. Since then, stuffed animals from dinosaurs to cartoon characters have been selected by astronauts for this purpose.
During the Axiom-4 mission, the soft swan named Joy orbits freely after weightlessness is reached, verifying the crew’s transition into microgravity.
Why a Swan?
The swan toy on board Axiom-4 also has greater symbolic and cultural significance, particularly with Shubhanshu Shukla.
The swan plushie was chosen as the Zero-G sign collectively by the global crew representing India, Hungary, Poland, and the U.S. The swan is significant to Shukla because it recalls his Indian roots.
In Hindu mythology, the swan is the mount of Goddess Saraswati and represents purity, knowledge, and wisdom.
A Taste of India in Space
In addition to the scientific equipment, Shukla also carried some personal items from home to delight the crew. These include Indian traditional sweets such as gajar ka halwa, moong dal halwa, and mango nectar, adding a sweet Indian touch to the global space adventure.