As Indian Air Force Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, part of the Axiom-4 (Ax-4) private space mission, prepares to return to Earth on July 14, the crew spent “one of the most unforgettable evening” aboard the International Space Station.Nasa astronaut Jonny Kim recently shared pictures on X, showcasing a joyful gathering of the Ax-4 crew enjoying a feast in orbit. “One of the most unforgettable evenings I’ve experienced on this mission was sharing a meal with new friends, Ax-4, aboard the International Space Station,” Kim wrote.
“We swapped stories and marveled at how people from diverse backgrounds and nations came together to represent humanity in space,” he added.
In the images, Shukla and his fellow crew members can be seen floating in zero gravity, sharing smiles and laughter as they enjoy their meal together.
The astronauts dined on rehydrated shrimp cocktails and crackers as appetizers, followed by savory chicken and beef fajitas. Russian cosmonauts ended the night with a cake made from sweet bread, condensed milk, and walnuts.
Shukla made history as the first Indian to reach the ISS on a private space mission. He launched aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft last month, propelled by a Falcon 9 rocket from Nasa’s Kennedy Space Center. Trained by Isro, Shukla is part of a diverse Ax-4 crew, including veterans like Peggy Whitson, Slawosz Uznanski-Wiśniewski, and Tibor Kapu.Together, they have been conducting more than 60 cutting-edge experiments in areas ranging from biology and artificial intelligence to materials science during their mission aboard the ISS.
