
He Carries Wishes And Hopes Of 1.4 billion Indians: PM Modi On Group Captain Shubhanshu Shuklas Axiom-4
In a post on X, he congratulated Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla on becoming the first Indian to travel to the International Space Station, stating that Shukla carries with him the hopes, dreams, and aspirations of 1.4 billion Indians.
"We welcome the successful launch of the Space Mission carrying astronauts from India, Hungary, Poland and the US. The Indian Astronaut, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is on the way to become the first Indian to go to International Space Station. He carries with him the wishes, hopes and aspirations of 1.4 billion Indians. Wish him and other astronauts all the success," the post read.
We welcome the successful launch of the Space Mission carrying astronauts from India, Hungary, Poland and the US.
The Indian Astronaut, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is on the way to become the first Indian to go to International Space Station. He carries with him the wishes,… — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 25, 2025
The Axiom-4 consists of members including Commander Peggy Whitson of the US, Pilot Shubhanshu Shukla of India, Mission Specialist Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski of Poland, and Mission Specialist Tibor Kapu of Hungary.
President Droupadi Murmu also extended best wishes for the success of the Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla-piloted Axiom-4 mission, which launched from NASA's Kennedy Space Centre in Florida, US today.
"As Group Captain Subhanshu Shukla creates a new milestone in space for India, the whole nation is excited and proud of an Indian's journey into the stars. He and his fellow astronauts of Axiom Mission 4 from the US, Poland and Hungary prove the world is indeed one family - 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam', " President Murmu said in a post on X.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Economic Times
an hour ago
- Economic Times
Biotech boom: More Indian students head abroad for biotechnology degrees
Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Specialisations in Demand Popular in NRI New Delhi: The number of Indian students applying for biotechnology studies abroad is growing. They're drawn by the opportunities the subject offers as large corporations and governments pour more funds into research for gene therapies , vaccines and weight-loss drugs, according to experts."There is a growing interest among Indian students looking to pursue biotechnology programmes in the UK, the US, Canada and Australia," said Piyush Kumar, regional director for South Asia at IDP Education. "Notably, biotech and life sciences applicants have made up about 40% of the total STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) cohort from India to the UK in the past one-two years-a significant and telling trend."The Covid-19 pandemic is seen as a turning point. "The tangible success of mRNA vaccines, rapid diagnostics and gene therapies turned biotech into a symbol of real-world impact," said Rahul Subramaniam, co-founder of Athena Education. "Students started seeing scientists like Katalin Kariko and Drew Weissman as modern heroes." Gene editing, synthetic biology and computational biology have emerged as the top draws, said Akshay Chaturvedi, founder of LeverageEdu."These are seeing nearly 1.5x to 2x more student interest than they did a few years ago," said Chaturvedi. "Agricultural biotech and pharma R&D are also seeing increased traction, particularly among students from tier-2 cities with roots in agriculture or pharmacy backgrounds."Notable is the shift in student profiles. Many are now coming from interdisciplinary backgrounds—engineering, computer science and pure sciences—often with research internships or Olympiad projects under their belt.'Our biotech aspirants, over the last two years, have often hailed from engineering or computer science backgrounds, particularly those interested in bioinformatics, computational biology and systems biology,' said Subramaniam of Athena said students are choosing destinations not just for the brand name, but for access to research grants, lab rotations, incubator support and real pathways into the bioeconomy workforce. High on students' lists are universities in the US, UK, Germany, Canada, Australia and even Singapore, with post-study work rights, research assistantships and startup incubation support influencing decisions. 'It's a very pragmatic generation,' he to Sanjog Anand, cofounder of Rostrum Education, demand is highest for specialisations such as medical biotechnology, bioinformatics, synthetic biology, gene editing and pharma research and development.


Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
Axiom-4: Bengaluru 'water bears' serve their purpose in space
Pics credit: Axiom Space He may have witnessed more than a hundred sunrises and sunsets from orbit, but for Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla , the first eight days aboard the International Space Station (ISS) have been a whirlwind of scientific discovery. While six of the seven Isro-led experiments are underway, tardigrades or 'water bears' that travelled all the way from Bengaluru to the orbital lab some 400 km from Earth, have served their purpose in space. Shux, who kicked off his scientific experiments with Myogenesis — to investigate the biological pathways behind skeletal muscle degradation in microgravity inside the Life Sciences Glovebox, marked his first week in orbit by completing the study on tardigrades or 'water bears'. 'Shukla has successfully completed the microgravity experiment involving Tardigrades onboard the ISS,' Isro confirmed. The next step would be for the principal investigators to analyse the data obtained from experiments conducted by Shux. The study focused on tardigrades' survival, revival, and reproductive behaviour in space. It will provide valuable insights into the underlying biological mechanisms leading to resilience of extremophile organisms in microgravity environments and has potential applications on Earth especially in the area of therapeutics,' Isro confirmed. Bengaluru 'Water Bears' The water bears at ISS were studied in the Voyager Tardigrades experiment designed by researchers from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc). Biochemist Sandeep Eswarappa and team at IISc, who spent over five years studying tardigrades, resilient microscopic organisms that have survived five mass extinctions, discovered a Paramacrobiotus species with an astonishing defence: When exposed to lethal ultraviolet radiation, this species absorbs the harmful rays and emits harmless blue fluorescence instead. That was the first direct experimental evidence of photoprotective fluorescence in any organism. And, it is this 'Bengaluru strain' of the tardigrade that has flown to the ISS with Shux. Other experiments Shux's first eight days in orbit as part of the Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission have been defined not just by spectacle, but also a series of intricate biological investigations that could transform both future space missions and life on Earth. The Myogenesis study, on the other hand, is progressing with planned interventions and recording of observations as per the experiment protocol. In parallel, other Indian experiments for studying selected strains of microalgae and cyanobacteria under space conditions are ongoing, contributing to research on regenerative life support systems and crew nutrition. 'As part of the Electronic Displays human research study, Shux carried out daily software-based cognitive and interface assessments. The study aims to optimise crew interaction with digital systems in the unique environment of space,' Isro added. A day before the well-deserved 'rest day' upon completing half his stay at the ISS, he had begun documenting the progress of the Cyanobacteria Growth Experiment, another Isro-led study analysing how photosynthetic bacteria behave in space. These tiny organisms could one day form the backbone of life support systems on long-duration missions, recycling carbon dioxide into oxygen and aiding water regeneration. Shux also helped deploy and manage samples for the Space Microalgae investigation — another study with enormous potential. Microalgae, already valued on Earth for their rapid growth and nutritional content, are being cultivated in orbit to observe how microgravity influences their metabolism, genetic activity, and biomass yield. These hardy organisms may serve as future spacefarers' food, fuel, or even pharmaceutical source.


Time of India
7 hours ago
- Time of India
Elon Musk wants to shut down the International Space Station for which Donald Trump just sanctioned $1.25 billion; says time to focus on ...
The world's richest man and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has triggered a debate by urging the retirement of the International Space Station (ISS), calling it a relic that's holding back humanity's cosmic ambitions. On July 3, Elon Musk took to Twitter to repost a summary of space-related funding in President Donald Trump's latest tax bill, which allocates $1.25 billion to sustain the ISS through 2030. Musk's blunt response: 'It's time to retire the Space Station and focus on Mars'. Musk's post sparked a heated online debate, with supporters cheering his bold vision and critics defending the ISS as a cornerstone of global scientific collaboration. The ISS, said to be a marvel of engineering orbiting 250 miles above Earth, has been a hub for groundbreaking research since its first module launched in 1998. But at over two decades old, the station is showing its age. NASA has acknowledged that critical systems, including life support and structural components, are nearing the end of their operational life. The tax bill also includes $325 million to fund a safe deorbit process by 2030, signaling that the station's days are numbered. Last year, NASA awarded SpaceX an $843 million contract to build a U.S. Deorbit Vehicle to guide the ISS to a controlled reentry, ensuring it burns up safely over a remote part of the Pacific Ocean. Why Elon Musk wants ISS deorbited Elon Musk argues that the ISS's mounting maintenance costs -- estimated at $3-4 billion annually -- are a drain on resources that could be better spent on humanity's next frontier: Mars. 'The ISS was a great achievement, but it's a 20th-century project,' Musk said in a follow-up post on Twitter. 'If we want to become a multi-planetary species, we need to stop tinkering with old hardware and go all-in on Mars.' His vision for a self-sustaining Martian colony has been a cornerstone of SpaceX's mission since its founding in 2002, with the company's Starship rocket designed to carry crews and cargo to the Red Planet. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Providers are furious: Internet access without a subscription! Techno Mag Learn More Undo What supporters of International Space Station say Critics, however, argue that Musk's push to abandon the ISS overlooks its ongoing contributions. The station hosts experiments in microgravity that have advanced medical research, materials science, and our understanding of long-term space habitation -- knowledge critical for Mars missions. 'The ISS isn't just a lab; it's a symbol of what nations can achieve together,' said Dr. Ellen Stofan, former NASA chief scientist, in a statement to Reuters. 'Dismissing it prematurely risks losing that momentum.' The ISS is a joint effort of the United States, Russia, Europe, Japan, and Canada, and its cooperative framework has weathered geopolitical tensions, including recent strains with Russia over Ukraine. Elon Musk's 'time to retire ISS' divides the internet Public reaction on Twitter too reflect the divide. 'Musk is right—ISS is a money pit. Mars is the future,' posted user @SpacePioneer2030, echoing sentiments from those who see the station as outdated. Others, like @AstroGeek42, countered: 'The ISS still delivers science you can't get anywhere else. Why ditch it before we're ready?' The debate underscores a broader tension in space policy: balancing immediate scientific gains with long-term exploration goals. NASA's current plan keeps the ISS operational until 2030, with private space stations like Axiom Space's proposed orbital habitat expected to fill the gap. But Musk's comments suggest he'd rather see that transition happen sooner. SpaceX, which already ferries astronauts and supplies to the ISS, is positioned to play a key role in both the station's end and the next chapter of space exploration. The company's reusable rockets have slashed launch costs, making ambitious projects like Mars missions more feasible. The tax bill's funding for the ISS and its deorbit underscores a pragmatic reality: the station's end is inevitable. Yet Musk's call to shift focus to Mars raises questions about priorities in an era of constrained budgets and competing global challenges. As one senior NASA official, speaking anonymously, told The Washington Post, 'Elon's not wrong that Mars is the big goal, but the ISS is still teaching us how to get there. It's not an either-or situation—yet."