Adventures of Commander Crunch

In the vast, spice-rich air of the grand ISFK (Indian Space Food Kitchen) Station, a brave little samosa named Commander Crunch settled inside Fryer-I, the spacecraft of food supplies meant for Indian astronauts.

- Shatabdi Dass

He was not just any ordinary samosa—he was golden, crispy and filled with the perfect mix of spiced potatoes and peas, ready to embark on the adventure of a lifetime.

As the first Indian snack in space, Commander Crunch took his duty seriously. He sat proudly in the cockpit, his golden shell gleaming under the dim lights of the spacecraft. “I shall represent India with honour!” he declared, adjusting his imaginary space helmet. Then came a deep rumble. The launch countdown had begun. 10...9...8...

The mighty rocket engines ignited, burning thousands of gallons of fuel, sending shockwaves through the launchpad as the spacecraft prepared to break free from Earth’s grasp. 3...2...1!

Commander Crunch felt the intense pressure of the high speed, making him wonder, “Is this what popcorn feels like when it’s about to pop?!”

The rocket surged upwards, piercing through the thick layers of Earth’s atmosphere. The force was incredible—gravity clung to them desperately, but the rocket’s engines were stronger. As the spacecraft soared, it passed through the troposphere, where clouds swirled like puffs of steam from a hot cup of tea.

Then, as the rocket pushed past the thermosphere, an incredible sight unfolded before him. The Kármán Line, the widely recognized boundary of space at about 100 kilometres above Earth, had been crossed. Beyond this point, the blue sky faded into an endless, velvety blackness, speckled with countless stars.

The engines roared one last time before cutting off. Commander Crunch felt himself floating in silence; he had officially entered outer space, where the air was non-existent, temperatures were extreme and the only rule was microgravity.