Historic lift-off as Shubhanshu Shukla soars toward ISS, marking India’s first Step into private space missions with focus on microgravity research
by Utsav RoyGroup Captain Shubhanshu Shukla of the Indian Air Force embarked on his journey to the International Space Station (ISS) on Wednesday as part of the Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4), making history as the second Indian to travel to space since Rakesh Sharma’s mission in 1984. Shukla, accompanied by three other international astronauts, lifted off aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket. This mission represents India’s first participation in a private astronaut initiative, highlighting a strong commitment to conducting advanced scientific research in the microgravity environment of space.
In a collaborative effort between NASA and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), the mission will feature research in areas such as muscle regeneration, plant biology, microalgae growth, and human-computer interaction under microgravity conditions.
Ax-4’s research program includes around 60 investigations and experiments representing 31 nations, including India, the United States, Brazil, Hungary, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, Poland, the UAE, and others. This mission will be the most research-intensive Axiom flight ever conducted aboard the ISS.
ISRO will carry out several notable studies:
Crop Seed Exposure
ISRO will examine how six different crop seed varieties respond to spaceflight. Upon return, the seeds will be grown over several generations, with genetically favorable plants selected for deeper study. The goal is to enhance our understanding of growing food in space for future deep-space missions.
Cyanobacteria Study
Cyanobacteria, which can perform photosynthesis, are of interest for life support in spacecraft. Two cyanobacteria strains will be studied to analyze how microgravity affects their growth, cellular function, and biochemistry. These findings may influence future closed-loop systems in space habitats.
Sprout Development
This experiment focuses on seed germination and growth in microgravity. Post-mission analysis will explore changes in genetics, microbial content, and nutrition. This contributes to understanding sustainable food production beyond Earth.
Microalgae Research
Three types of microalgae will be grown in space to study their metabolism, growth patterns, and gene activity compared to Earth-based samples. These organisms could play a vital role in future missions as food, fuel, or bio-support agents.
Muscle Degeneration (Myogenesis)
This project explores molecular pathways behind muscle loss in space and investigates therapeutic approaches. Results may benefit both astronauts and individuals on Earth suffering from muscular degeneration.
Human-Screen Interaction (Voyager Displays)
This study assesses how astronauts interact with electronic displays in microgravity, focusing on eye movement and stress perception—key to future spacecraft interface design.
Tardigrade Survival
Tardigrades will be sent to space to study their resilience, reproduction, and gene expression, aiding research in life sciences and biotech.