Why Indian Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla Will Carry A Soft Toy Swan To Space

Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla is embarking on a historic spaceflight aboard the Axiom-4 mission on June 11 at 5:30 p.m. IST. Accompanying the four-member crew is a soft toy swan named 'Joy' who will serve a critical purpose on the mission. In a recent virtual press conference, the crew announced that Joy will be the 'zero-gravity' indicator, a traditional token carried to visually signal the moment when the spacecraft reaches orbit and experiences weightlessness. 'Joy' is being termed a unifying cultural symbol as each member of the crew reportedly contributed to selecting the swan toy. 

Indian Air Force officer Shubhanshu Shukla said that the swan carries deep meaning for him. It represents the vaahan (vehicle) of the Hindu Goddess Saraswati, regarded as the symbol of knowledge. "Carrying this symbol reminds me of the delicate balance between knowledge and pressure, and it keeps me grounded in the values I hold dear. I feel inspired, fully prepared and confident as I embark on this journey," he said in the press meet.

The crew of Axiom-4 have chosen a white baby swan plush toy named "Joy" as the Zero-G indicator for this mission! 🦢

Swan is the vehicle of the Hindu goddess Saraswati and represents wisdom & purity. 🕉

Mission Pilot Shubhanshu Shukla's 6 y/o son Kiash (aka Sid) also played a… pic.twitter.com/5WFlQQBVoP

— ISRO Spaceflight (@ISROSpaceflight) June 8, 2025

Peggy Whitson, the commander of the Axiom Mission, also spoke about the significance of the swan toy. "Joy represents the shared aspirations of three nations united in their return to human space flight. The swan is rich in cultural symbolism, stands for wisdom in India, resilience in Poland, and grace in Hungary. Through Joy, we'll celebrate our diversity and our unity in the shared journey of space exploration," she said.

More about Axiom-4, Shubhanshu Shukla

Shubhanshu Shukla is an Indian Air Force test pilot and a vyomanaut. The Lucknow native is going to make history as the second Indian in space, after Rakesh Sharma, who flew on April 3, 1984. Aside from Axiom-4, Shukla is also the wing commander on India's historic space mission, the four-member Indian Human Spaceflight Programme.

VIDEO | Axiom AX4 mission: Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla's father Shambhu Dayal Shukla said, "This is a very exciting moment for us, we had been eagerly waiting for this day. We are filled with joy and pride. Our son was very happy that the mission date has finally arrived… pic.twitter.com/byH4iLe4Jo

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) June 9, 2025

Axiom Mission 4 is a private spaceflight operated by  Axiom Space in partnership with SpaceX and NASA. The crew includes pilot Shubhanshu Shukla from India, Axiom employee and wing commander Peggy Whitson from the USA, and mission specialists Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski from Poland and Tibor Kapu from Hungary. They will fly to the International Space Station from Launch Complex 39A at the Kennedy Space Center on June 11 at 8 a.m. local time.