Updated On: 25 June, 2025 06:59 PM IST | Mumbai | IANS
Shukla is also carrying a secret souvenir for Rakesh Sharma, a gesture of gratitude toward the man who mentored him through mission preparation

Shubhanshu Shukla (Pic: AFP)
Sitting on the verge of making history, Indian Air Force Group Captain and ISRO astronaut, Shubhanshu Shukla, is carrying carrot halwa, moong dal halwa and mango nectar with him on way to the International Space Station (ISS) to satiate his cravings for home-made food in space, and distribute some among fellow astronauts too.
Shukla will become only the second Indian in space – and first on the orbiting laboratory -- after Rakesh Sharma in 1984.
The SpaceX Falcon 9 launch carrying Shukla and three other astronauts marks India's debut on a private astronaut mission, with a focus on deep scientific research in micro-gravity.