14 Days of Discovery: An Indian Astronaut’s Groundbreaking Work on the ISS

On June 25, 2025, at 11:51 AM IST, India etched its establish in ancient previous. Shubhanshu Shukla, affectionately identified as “Shux,” became the essential Indian in over 40 years to are living and work on the Global Space Living (ISS). He flew because the pilot of Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4), a groundbreaking hump that made him the 634th person to orbit Earth.

The mission lifted off on a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft named “Grace” from NASA’s Kennedy Space Heart in Florida. Becoming a member of Shukla had been Commander Peggy Whitson from the US and mission experts from Poland and Hungary. Their spacecraft journeyed for roughly 28 hours sooner than efficiently docking with the ISS at 4:01 PM IST on June 26, 2025, whereas hovering above the North Atlantic Ocean. By 5:53 PM IST the identical day, the crew entered the orbiting laboratory, welcomed by NASA’s Expedition 73 team in a varied ceremony.

Science Work by Shukla in Space: Unlocking Microgravity’s Secrets

Aboard the ISS, Shukla immersed himself in a diverse array of scientific experiments, essentially specializing in how living organisms adapt to the stop to-zero gravity atmosphere of space.

A key dwelling of his analysis eager microalgae—small inexperienced powerhouses in a position to producing food, oxygen, and even gas. These could be indispensable for sustaining future lengthy-length missions to the Moon or Mars. By staring at their habits in microgravity, scientists purpose to fabricate extra efficient lifestyles strengthen programs.

Shukla also delved into the instant muscle loss experienced in space, a situation identified as muscle atrophy. Utilizing the specialised Existence Sciences Glovebox, he studied muscle cells and examined potential countermeasures to fight this weakening, with findings that can back each and each astronauts and individuals on Earth plagued by muscle-linked ailments.

Any other piquant experiment eager tardigrades, steadily known as “water bears,” identified for his or her wonderful resilience and skill to outlive impolite prerequisites, in conjunction with the vacuum of space. By discovering out these small marvels, scientists hope to point out new solutions for retaining human cells right by prolonged space voyages.

Moreover, Shukla contributed to the burgeoning discipline of space farming. He meticulously tended to seeds from six varied plant kinds, monitoring their growth patterns in space. He also nurtured sprouts and microgreens, nutritious small vegetation that can provide new food for astronauts. This analysis holds promise for sustainable agriculture in space and may additionally expose modern urban farming tactics or cultivation in harsh climates on Earth.

India’s Rising Operate in Space: A New Expertise of Collaboration

Shukla’s mission has undeniably propelled India onto the global stage of space exploration. A momentous occasion occurred on June 28, 2025, when he spoke straight with Top Minister Narendra Modi from space, a proud and emotional alternate that underscored India’s outstanding progress—from sending its first astronaut in 1984 to now having one are living and work on the ISS.

This mission serves as a testament to India’s energetic participation in global space partnerships and its unwavering commitment to calm global cooperation.

Existence in Space: Adapting to New Challenges

Existence aboard the gap space gifts uncommon challenges. Day-after-day activities adore drinking, drowsing, and even transferring require contemporary approaches. Shukla has adapted to drowsing all over the Dragon spacecraft, whereas his crewmates exercise diversified drowsing quarters all over the ISS.

The team adheres to a rigorous day after day agenda, balancing scientific experiments, space upkeep, exercise, and tutorial outreach. To counteract the results of microgravity, they exercise specialised exercise instruments with harnesses and cords to produce resistance.

One critical area is space radiation. Lacking Earth’s protective atmospheric protect, astronauts put on radiation-monitoring gadgets to peek its results, providing a truly vital files for future deep-space missions beyond Earth’s orbit.

Piquant College students Across India: A Window to the Cosmos

Shukla has actively engaged in tutorial movies from space, illustrating how scientific principles manifest in a completely different plot in microgravity. He demonstrated the habits of liquids, the intricacies of plant growth, and the physiological changes experienced by the human body in space.

These charming classes are igniting a ardour for science among Indian students, providing a accurate and racy connection to the cosmos. The mission also highlights the power of world teamwork, with Shukla collaborating seamlessly with astronauts from the US, Hungary, and Poland.

Scientific Advantages and What They Mean: Influence Beyond Orbit

The mission’s experiments span a wide vary of indispensable areas. His work on most cancers analysis, investigating how most cancers cells behave in space, may doubtlessly lead to modern treatment solutions on Earth.

Shukla’s studies on muscle and bone loss are helpful no longer handiest for astronauts on lengthy-length missions nevertheless also for patients on Earth plagued by bone or muscle-linked prerequisites. His plant experiments possess the doubtless to noticeably enhance food manufacturing in India, in particular in urban areas or areas with restricted resources.

Moreover, the tips accrued on radiation publicity in space is immensely precious for planning India’s future missions to the Moon and beyond.

Mission Living as of July 9, 2025: A Legacy in the Making

This day marks Day 14 of the Ax-4 mission. Shukla and his dedicated team possess efficiently accomplished over 60 scientific experiments. They've orbited Earth extra than 200 times, traversing over 8 million kilometers—a distance equal to almost 20 spherical trips to the Moon. On this wonderful hump, they've witnessed over 200 sunrises and sunsets from their uncommon vantage level.

Their collective work has contributed seriously to scientific progress for 31 countries, solidifying Ax-4’s boom as even handed one of basically the most global space missions in ancient previous.

What’s Subsequent: India’s Space Future Beckons

Regardless that the crew stays aboard the gap space, their extremely anticipated return to Earth is anticipated very soon. While the final return date and time are but to be formally confirmed, preparations are positively underway for his or her safe descent. Upon landing, they'll lift back helpful samples and files that will be meticulously studied for years to return.

This mission is a pivotal step in India’s renewed commitment to human spaceflight. ISRO’s Gaganyaan mission—India’s indigenous human spaceflight program—is on the horizon, and Shubhanshu Shukla’s helpful skills will be instrumental to its success.

Axiom Space, the company on the back of this pioneering mission, will be actively setting up the essential private space space, which would per chance offer racy new opportunities for Indian astronauts and researchers in the lengthy bustle.

Shubhanshu Shukla’s mission has galvanized the nation, uniting it in vital satisfaction and boundless hope. He has ignited the imaginations of students, impressed scientists, and fueled the dreams of infinite individuals all over India. His outstanding hump is an spectacular testament that India is no longer merely a participant in space exploration—nevertheless is poised to handbook the skill in the years to return.

(The author, Girish Linganna, is an award-a hit science communicator and a Defence, Aerospace & Geopolitical Analyst. He also is the Managing Director of ADD Engineering Substances India Pvt. Ltd., a subsidiary of ADD Engineering GmbH, Germany. Contact: [email protected] )