Axiom Mission: Shubhanshu Shukla's swan toy explained
Indian Air Force Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, now aboard the Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4), picked a baby swan plush toy named "Joy" as his zero-gravity indicator.
Besides signaling weightlessness, this little swan stands for wisdom and purity—qualities cherished in India—and highlights the crew's focus on cultural unity in space.
Significance of the swan as a 0-gravity indicator
Zero-G indicators have been a space tradition since 1961, helping astronauts spot when they're truly floating.
SpaceX crews often pick plush toys that reflect their backgrounds or mission spirit.
For Ax-4, the swan is a nod to the team's diverse roots and shows how space exploration brings people together.
Ax-4 mission's focus on global collaboration
During their two weeks on the International Space Station, the Ax-4 crew is running nearly 60 experiments from 31 different countries—including India, Poland, Hungary, and the US.
Their work covers everything from biology to new tech trials, making this Axiom Space's most ambitious science mission yet and building stronger global partnerships in orbit.