Group Captain, Shubhanshu Shukla will soon be creating history by becoming the first Indian astronaut to go into space since Rakesh Sharma’s historic flight aboard a Soviet Soyuz spacecraft in 1984. Shubhanshu Shukla will be joining some of the ace astronauts as a part of the Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) Human Spaceflight Program (HSP). However, the officer won’t be alone on this journey, he will be accompanied by an unexpected guest.
Shubhanshu Shukla will be joining the Axiom 4 mission as a designated astronaut under the Gananyaan mission. The launch of the same was delayed from June 10, 2025, to June 11, 2025 (IST) due to the bad weather conditions. So, as we wait for the historic journey to commence, let’s meet Shubhanshu’s companion, Joy.
Meet Shubhanshu Shukla’s soft toy companion, Joy
Ever since Joy was introduced to the world, there has been intrigue surrounding the unorthodox companion of Shubhanshu Shukla. Pilot, Shubhanshu is all prepared for the launch of SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft to the International Space Station (ISS), and Joy will be his companion on the journey. For the unaware, Joy is a white plush swan. However, it is not just an ordinary travel buddy. As soon as the Axiom 4’s team enters the space, Joy will begin to float. This will be a signal for the team that they have entered the zero gravity area.
Bringing a plushie to space is an age-old tradition
image credit @NASA.gov
While bringing a plush might seem weird to many, it is not a new-age tradition. In fact, it was cosmonaut, Yuri Gagarin, who started the tradition in 1961 and brought a small doll with him on his Vostok Mission as an indicator of weightlessness or zero gravity. Ever since, SpaceX has incorporated a plush Zero-G toy as a part of every space mission. Over the years, astronauts have picked several different toys, from ‘Buzz Lightyear’ to Earth-themed characters, according to the sentiment and symbolic value it holds for them.
The reason why Shubhanshu Shukla and his team picked a swan for their mission
Shubhanshu Shukla and his Axiom 4 team, collectively picked the swan as their Zero-G toy. Astronauts from all four nations, India, Hungary, Poland and the USA, made the unanimous decision to take Joy the swan with them. However, to Shubhanshu and India, the swan holds a deeper meaning. For the unversed, the swan is the vehicle of Goddess Saraswati. While to others, it is the symbol of grace, resilience and purity.
Shubhanshu Shukla shared his views about taking Joy into space and revealed that it will help him stay grounded in Indian values as they explore the vast unknown of space. For the IAF officer, Joy represents unity, tradition, and hope across cultures and continents as it floats in the giant space.
About Axiom-4 Mission
The Axiom-4, also known as the Ax-4 mission, is the fourth private astronaut expedition to the International Space Station. Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla has joined them as the mission’s pilot, a role which requires high responsibility and precision. The mission will be launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida as the team will be aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft propelled by a Falcon 9 rocket. The mission is being led by former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, who is now the serving commander of Axiom Space. The international crew includes Slawosz Uznanski from Poland (European Space Agency) and Tibor Kapu from Hungary, both serving as mission specialists.
image credit @axiom.space
What are your thoughts on the Axiom 4 team taking a soft toy into the space? Let us know.
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