Axiom-4 Mission: Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla set for space leap on May 29, here's what he will explore

Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is all set to fly to the International Space Station (ISS) on 29 May 2025, launching from the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida. He will be part of the Axiom Mission-4 (Ax-4), a joint effort by ISRO, NASA, and ESA. During the 14-day mission, Shukla will join three other astronauts from the US, Hungary, and Poland to conduct important science experiments in space.

Here’s a simple look at the exciting research Shukla will be doing in space:

What will Shubhanshu Shukla do on the ISS?
Shukla’s mission will focus on understanding life in space, how it affects tiny organisms, plants, and even the human body. He will lead or help with at least seven key experiments.

1. Water Bears in Space
Tardigrades, also called water bears, are tiny creatures that can survive almost anything, freezing cold, boiling heat, and even space. Scientists want to see how they survive in space and if they can reproduce in microgravity.

This study could help us understand how life might survive long space trips and could even help with biotech uses on Earth.

2. Using Computers in Space
Another experiment will check how astronauts interact with screens and computers while floating in space. It will study:

• How they move their hands and eyes,
• How well they focus,
• And how stressed they feel when using digital systems.

These results may improve space technology and make future missions smoother.

3. Growing Microalgae for Space Food
Microalgae are tiny, plant-like organisms full of protein and nutrients. ISRO and NASA will test if they can grow well in space and be used as food. This could help with food supplies during long missions to Mars or the Moon.

4. Studying Water Bacteria (Cyanobacteria)
Cyanobacteria are known for making oxygen and using sunlight to grow. Shukla and team will study how they grow in space, how their cells react, and whether they can be used to produce oxygen on spacecraft.

5. Fighting Muscle Loss in Space
In space, astronauts’ muscles get weaker. ISRO and NASA will study how the body reacts and whether some supplements can help muscles recover. This research might also help treat muscle diseases on Earth.

6. Growing Salad Seeds in Space
This experiment will test if salad seeds can sprout and grow in space. It will look at:

• How the plants change over generations,
• How microbes affect them,
• And if they still have the same nutrition.

This could help astronauts grow their own food in space in the future.

Inputs from TOI