What takes an astronaut in the suitcase? Typical food and a sheet swan

Chef dishes and even a lucky amulet. Each astronaut wants to show their planet and work colleagues that in his piece of earth is eaten well.

Not only scientific equipment is composed of the luggage of a space flight. The astronauts of AX-4 Missionfrom Axiom Space, which docked at the International Space Station (ISS) on Thursday (26), they took items such as chocolate, typical foods and even a white toy swan.

Shubhanshu Shukla, an Indian astronaut who is first in space, revealed that your luggage includes traditional India dishes, Like Carrot Halva, Lentil Halva – moong dal – And sleeve nectar.

“Some of them are my favorites, and I am very happy to be able to take them and share them with my colleagues and also with the astronauts who are already in the station,” said the novice in space missions during a press conference.

Space chocolate

Hungary’s space traveler, Tibor Kapu, bet on chocolates From the company Hungarian Stühmer to further sweeten the stay at ISS. According to the AX-4 crewmanthe product was adapted to meet NASA requirements.

In addition, Kapu took to space Hungarian spicy folders and claimed to be very happy to consume this food during the mission, since it considers that space travelers tend to Avoid salty products due to its association with weight loss.

“We had a chance to try this during quarantine. And let me say: we have a lot of co-workers here that they thought excellent-they just loved it,” said Hungarian astronaut.

Complete Polish Menu

SłAWOSZ UZNAńSKI-WIśNIEWSKI, Astronaut that represents Poland in the mission of Axiom Space, elaborated a complete menu to take to the international space station. Food preparation even had the collaboration of the Polish chef Mateusz Gessler.

The selection of space dishes includes the Traditional pierogi cookies Stuffed with cabbage and mushrooms, tomato soup with noodles and polaco stew with sarracene wheat. For dessert: apple cruble.

“I wanted a genuinely Polish menu to share with my colleagues. The food brings psychological comfort, And immediately I thought it was worth taking some delicacies to orbit, ”said Uznański-Wiśniewski in a statement released by the European Space Agency (ESA).

Small white swan

Beyond the various typical foods carried by astronauts, the crew, which It will spend about two weeks at ISSalso took with it a Small White Swan called Joy. The “fifth member of the crew” acts as Zero Gravity Indicator of the Mission and carries symbolism of some of the countries represented on the trip.

In India, the swan symbolizes wisdom and purity, beyond the search for the truth. In Poland, the animal represents loyalty and resilience, while for the Hungarians he refers to Beauty of nature.