In a monumental achievement, India, Poland, and Hungary have sent their first astronauts to space in over 40 years.
The astronauts, aboard a private SpaceX flight, are making their journey to the International Space Station (ISS) on a Falcon 9 reusable rocket. It marks Axiom's fourth chartered space station flight in three years, as NASA pushes to open space travel to private businesses.
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Joining the crew is Peggy Whitson, known as America's most experienced astronaut. Indian Air Force pilot Shubhanshu Shukla, Hungarian mechanical engineer Tibor Kapu, and Polish radiation expert Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski were also aboard the flight.
The launch took place from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida after a two-week delay caused by concerns over a leak at the space station. In addition to the dozens of experiments they will conduct during the two-week mission, each astronaut also brought along a piece of home, with food items reflecting their cultural heritage.
Among the delicacies are savory Indian curry, spicy Hungarian paprika paste, and freeze-dried Polish pierogi. These treats not only nourish the astronauts but also celebrate their rich culinary traditions.
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