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Shubhanshu Shukla to speak to students and ISRO scientists this Friday

Shubhanshu Shukla to speak to students and ISRO scientists this Friday

India Todaya day ago
Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla is set to engage in a special interaction with school students and scientists from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Friday, July 4. The unique event will be conducted via ham radio, with the telebridge established at Bengaluru's U R Rao Satellite Centre, according to the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS).Shukla, currently aboard the International Space Station (ISS) as part of the 14-day Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission, will participate in this interactive session facilitated by ARISS—a global programme designed to connect students with astronauts in space using amateur radio systems. The conversation is scheduled to begin at 10:17 UTC (3:47 PM IST) and will be relayed through the K6DUE telebridge in the US.advertisementHam radio, often relied upon during emergencies when conventional communications are down, is used by ARISS to create meaningful learning moments for students by allowing them to speak directly with astronauts on the ISS.
The official ARISS X handle confirmed the event, posting:'Contact upcoming with India! @Axiom_Space #Ax4 crew member Shubhanshu Shukla, VU2TNI, will talk to the UR Rao Satellite Centre (URSC) in Karnataka via ham radio from the Space Station. Scheduled Fri. July 4 at 10:17 UTC, 6:17 AM ET, 3:47 PM ISS via K6DUE telebridge.'SCIENTIFIC EXPERIMENTS ON THE AXIOM-4 MISSIONWhile aboard the ISS, Shukla and his fellow Axiom-4 crew members are conducting several path-breaking scientific experiments. Recently, Shukla worked on a space microalgae study—deploying sample bags and capturing images of algae strains to observe how they respond in microgravity. Axiom Space has emphasized that such organisms may hold promise for sustainable food systems in future long-duration space missions.advertisementIn addition, the crew has participated in the Neuro Motion VR experiment. During this task, astronauts wear virtual reality headsets and perform attention-based activities, while their brain activity is tracked through functional near-infrared spectroscopy.The mission also includes studies aimed at understanding how spaceflight affects cardiovascular function and balance systems. The data gathered could pave the way for better real-time health monitoring during extended missions in space.The Axiom-4 mission reflects the growing role of private space companies in advancing science aboard the ISS, while also creating opportunities for education and outreach on Earth.(With PTI inputs)- EndsTune InMust Watch
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