Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla Tells PM Modi How India’s Favorite Dessert Reached the ISS
When Prime Minister Narendra Modi casually asked Axiom Mission 4 astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla “How was gajar ka halwa in space?” during a live video call on June 25, 2025, the question captured the nation’s imagination. Beyond routine status updates and technical briefings, this light-hearted culinary query highlighted a deeper truth: food comforts carry across galaxies. Shukla’s charming reply—detailing the aroma, texture, and surprising ease of enjoying India’s iconic carrot dessert aboard the International Space Station (ISS)—underscored human adaptability and the power of cultural connection, even in zero gravity.
A Sweet Bite of Home: Crafting Gajar Ka Halwa in Zero Gravity
During pre-flight preparations, Shukla worked with NASA and Axiom Space food scientists to adapt the traditional gajar ka halwa recipe for space conditions. The ingredients—grated carrots, khoya, ghee, sugar, and cardamom—were freeze-dried and vacuum-sealed. Once aboard the ISS, Shukla simply added warm water to rehydrate the mix, then gently stirred using specially designed utensils to prevent floating droplets.
In his reply to PM Modi, Shukla described that the halwa’s sweet aroma filled the small station galley, “almost like being back in my mother’s kitchen.” He noted the texture was slightly firmer than Earth-made halwa but “still melt-in-the-mouth.” On a rigorous schedule of microgravity experiments—ranging from quantum biology to plant growth studies—this culinary comfort provided a vital morale boost. It demonstrated that even complex cultural dishes can be modified for space, paving the way for more diverse astronaut menus in future missions.
Shukla’s delightful account resonated widely on social media, with hashtags like #SpaceHalwa and #GajarKaHalwaInSpace trending nationally. Culinary schools and space enthusiasts lauded the innovation, while nutritionists highlighted the importance of such familiar flavors for mental well-being during long-duration missions.
