Space mission Axiom 4: The universe can be a family one day
Group captain Shubhanshu Shukla of the Air Force has become the second Indian astronaut to visit space after wing commander Rakesh Sharma's journey aboard the Soyuz T-11 spacecraft back in 1984.
After being postponed multiple times on account of technical glitches, Axiom Mission-4 set pulses racing in a nation of over 1.4 billion when the Crew Dragon Grace lifted off from Nasa's Kennedy Space Center in the US on 25 June.
This spacecraft was sent up by SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket, the reusable bulk of which returned swiftly to its pre-launch clasps on the ground after delivering the necessary thrust. Designed to travel on, the crew capsule docked on Thursday at the International Space Station (ISS), which has been in low-earth orbit with seven astronauts aboard.
They've been joined by Axiom-4's team of four led there by American astronaut Peggy Whitson, described by Nasa as a 'frequent flyer." Apart from Shukla, the mission's pilot, its other members are scientists Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski of Poland on behalf of the European Space Agency and Tibor Kapu of Hungary.
Scientific, engineering and technological research will be the bedrock of Axiom-4. This mission is chock-a-block with projects. It has brought aboard the ISS as many as 60 studies from 31 countries. Common to all are the conditions of microgravity—or near weightlessness—under which experiments will be conducted. This could prepare the ground for replication in deep space someday. Seven of these projects are from India, selected by the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro).
They include tests with three strains of edible micro-algae, which will be compared with algae grown on earth; the sprouting of salad and food crop seeds, which is broadly about space farming; and gauging the effects of metabolic supplements on muscle strength, which may help us work out how to address the atrophy that astronauts suffer on long missions.
Another experiment involves studying cyanobacteria (also known as blue-green algae) to see if they can grow in microgravity with urea and nitrate from human waste as fertilizer. The idea is to explore if this could be a source of nutrition in space. It can potentially yield a 'superfood'—think of Spirulina, which is valued for the protein and vitamins it packs in—that lays a path to human survival away from the home planet for prolonged stretches.
Crop seeds grown in orbit will be brought back and grown under a lens for several generations. Yet another project will study the physical and cognitive effect of computer use, aiming to develop screens suitable for long-duration space missions. Isro has also sent up Tardigrades, known as 'water bears.' These are microscopic aquatic invertebrates that can survive extreme conditions—from volcanoes to radiation. How well these 'extremophiles' handle microgravity will be of interest.
India's participation in Axiom-4 offers hope for our collective future. Health, food security and our ability to withstand extremes of weather triggered by climate change—all these are vital fields of study.
What we learn from those tests will advance human knowledge for the benefit of all, even as this quest fosters a scientific temper. The need to explore the habitability of space should also concentrate minds on the future of the planet we inhabit. In Gaganyaan, Isro has its own crewed space mission lined up for 2027. But for Axiom-4, we have global collaboration to thank. As universal truths go, it's self-evident that the world must learn to collaborate on earth too.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Economic Times
40 minutes ago
- Economic Times
Shared gajar ka halwa, aam ras with fellow astronauts: Shukla tells PM Modi
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel India's Shubhanshu Shukla and other astronauts on the International Space Station relished delicacies such as ' gajar ka halwa ', 'moong dal halwa' and ' aam ras ' as they began their 14-day stay on the orbital shared these details in an 18-minute interaction with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday from the International Space Station that is orbiting the earth at an altitude of 400 km."Yes, I brought 'gajar ka halwa', 'moong dal ka halwa' and 'aam ras'. I wanted everyone who has joined me from other countries to enjoy the rich Indian cuisine. All of us had it together and everyone liked it," Shukla told the prime asked Shukla whether he had shared any Indian delicacies with his fellow reached the International Space Station on Thursday along with three other astronauts as part of the commercial Axiom-4 mission for a 14-day stay during which the crew will be part of a series of science reaching the orbital lab on Thursday, Shukla and the three astronauts spent the day settling in and setting up their sleeping Peggy Whitson is located in the Airlock, Shukla in Dragon, Slawosz "Suave" Uznanski-Wisniewski in Columbus, and Tibor Kapu in the Japanese Experiment Module (JEM).They completed handover activities with the Expedition 73 crew and began acclimating to life in operational tasks were also completed, including unpacking cargo in Dragon and reviewing emergency the interaction, Shukla briefed the prime minister about various experiments being done in to how space differs from Earth, Shukla explained that everything in space feels different from the training on the ground. He added that his feet were tied while speaking to Prime Minister Modi; otherwise, he would start said simple acts like drinking water or sleeping become significant challenges in space. Shukla explained that one can sleep on the ceiling, on the walls, or wherever, since orientation becomes fluid."Adjusting to this altered environment takes a day or two, but the experience is a beautiful harmony of science and wonder," he said.
India Today
41 minutes ago
- India Today
Your experience will be key to Gaganyaan, manned moon missions: PM Modi to Shux
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday spoke to Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, who travelled to the International Space Station (ISS) on an Axiom-4 mission, which also included astronauts from the US, Hungary and Poland. Lauding his feat of becoming just the second Indian in space and the first ever on the ISS, PM Modi assigned Shukla some 'homework', saying that while aboard the orbiting laboratory, he should gain enough experience and expertise because it will be key to the country's Gaganyaan and manned moon missions as well as India's quest to build its own space station in the near future. Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is the pilot of the Axiom-4 mission, which launched from Nasa's Kennedy Space Centre in Florida to the ISS on Wednesday. The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft completed a 28-hour journey before executing a flawless docking manoeuvre at the ISS's Harmony module. The PM also spoke about Shukla's experience on the mission so far, his training with his crewmates, and the targeted experiments aboard the ISS, among others. Watch the full conversation here.
NDTV
44 minutes ago
- NDTV
"India Looks Very Grand, Very Big From Space": Shubhanshu Shukla To PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday spoke to Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, who is the first Indian astronaut to reach the International Space Station (ISS). The nearly 18-minute dialogue between PM Modi and the 39-year-old Indian astronaut, who is the second Indian to go to space in 41 years and the first since Rakesh Sharma's eight-day sojourn in 1984, was rich in emotion, science, and national pride. Expressing the collective pride of 140 crore Indians, PM Modi told the Indian astronaut: "Today you are farthest from your motherland but you are closest to the hearts of Indians." He congratulated Mr Shukla on his successful mission and asked about his well-being. Mr Shukla, visibly moved, responded with gratitude, affirming that he was safe and feeling well, crediting it to the blessings and support of the nation. The astronaut described his journey to the ISS as not just a personal achievement but a symbolic leap for the entire country. "This small journey from Earth to 400 kilometres above is not only mine - it is the journey of our country," he said. Reflecting on his childhood, he shared that he never imagined becoming an astronaut, but under the current leadership, India now offers such dreams a chance to become reality. In a lighter moment, PM Modi asked if Mr Shukla had shared Indian food with his international colleagues. In response, Mr Shukla said he had brought carrot halwa, moong dal halwa, and mango juice, which were well received by his fellow astronauts. "Everyone liked it very much," he said, adding that they hoped to visit India one day to experience its culinary richness firsthand. The conversation then turned philosophical as PM Modi remarked on the ancient Indian tradition of undertaking a "parikrama", with Mr Shukla actually doing a circumambulation or orbiting the Earth. The Prime Minister asked what part of the planet Mr Shukla was currently passing over. Though the astronaut didn't have the exact coordinates, he said a little while ago they had passed over Hawaii. He described the awe-inspiring experience of orbiting the Earth 16 times a day, witnessing as many sunrises and sunsets. Traveling at 28,000 kilometres per hour, he noted, adding with a tinge of national pride, suggesting "this speed shows how fast our country is moving forward". When asked about his first thoughts upon being in space, Mr Shukla shared a profound realisation: "From space, you don't see any borders. The Earth looks united." He emphasised the vastness of India, which appears much larger from orbit than on a map, and spoke of the deep sense of unity and shared humanity that space evokes. "Jab pehli baar Bharat ko dekha, Bharat sach mein bohat bhavya dikta hain, jitna ham map pe dekhten hain, usse kahin jyada bada (When we saw India for the first time, we saw that India looks very grand, very big, much bigger than what we see on the map)," Mr Shukla told the Prime Minister, bringing back memories of Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma's "saare jahan se achha Hindustan hamara" remark in 1984 when PM Indira Gandhi had asked him how India looks from space. PM Modi then enquired about the challenges of adapting to life in microgravity. Mr Shukla explained that despite extensive training, the real experience was vastly different. "Even small tasks become difficult," he said, noting that he had to tie his feet to stay in place during the conversation. Sleeping, drinking water, and even moving around required new techniques. "It takes a day or two to get used to it," he added. He showed how the microphone was floating away from him as he spoke. The Prime Minister highlighted India's unique blend of science and spirituality, asking whether mindfulness and meditation helped in space. Mr Shukla affirmed that they played a crucial role in managing stress and making sound decisions. "The calmer you are, the better you can make decisions," he said, advocating for the integration of mindfulness in high-stress environments like space missions. On the scientific front, Mr Shukla proudly revealed that he was conducting seven Indian-designed experiments aboard the ISS. The first, scheduled for today, involved stem cells and aimed to understand muscle loss in microgravity - a study with potential applications for elderly care on Earth. Another experiment focused on the growth of microalgae, which could contribute to food security due to their high nutritional value and rapid growth in space. PM Modi praised the scientific ambition of the mission and noted how Chandrayaan's success had already sparked a wave of interest in space among Indian youth. He said Mr Shukla's journey would further fuel that passion. Mr Shukla, in turn, encouraged young Indians to dream big and persevere. "There is no one way to success," he said. "But one thing is common-never stop trying." As the conversation neared its end, PM Modi gave Mr Shukla some "homework": to document his experiences for the benefit of future missions, including Gaganyaan, which is India's upcoming human spaceflight program and the Bhartiya Antariksha Station and to send an Indian to the Moon. Mr Shukla agreed, saying he was absorbing every lesson "like a sponge" and would apply them to accelerate India's space ambitions. In a deeply emotional closing, Mr Shukla reflected on the collective achievement of the mission. "This is not just my personal accomplishment-it is a collective achievement for our country," he said. He urged every child and youth to believe that "the sky is never the limit". He also revealed that the Indian flag now proudly adorned the ISS, a moment that filled him with immense pride. PM Modi ended the conversation by extending his best wishes to Mr Shukla and his team. "Take care of yourself. Keep increasing the respect for Mother India," he said. Mr Shukla responded with a heartfelt "Bharat Mata ki jai," echoing the sentiment of a nation that now sees its dreams orbiting the Earth.
