UP, Kerala students get rare peek into life on ISS during interaction with Shubhanshu Shukla
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News18
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'Seeing India From Space Was Emotional': Shubhanshu Shukla Interacts With Students
Last Updated: The interactive session was held at the CMS Auditorium, and it saw enthusiastic participation from students of several schools across Uttar Pradesh Shubhanshu Shukla, who is aboard the International Space Station (ISS) as part of NASA's Axiom Mission 4, interacted with the students of Lucknow. Shukla, who completed a week in space, appeared live on the screen holding a ball, captivating the students' attention as he answered their questions with excitement and warmth. The students were also thrilled and asked several questions about life in space. When asked how astronauts manage to stay fit while orbiting Earth, Shukla responded, 'We stay fit with yoga and regular exercise." Another student inquired about the view of Earth from space, to which he replied, 'Seeing India from space was an emotional moment." Notably, the interactive session was held at the CMS Auditorium, and it saw enthusiastic participation from students of several schools across Uttar Pradesh, including Rae Bareli, Hardoi, Sitapur, and nearby districts. Gaganyaan mission astronaut Angad Pratap Singh was also present at the venue, inspiring the next generation of space enthusiasts. The event took place with strict confidentiality — mobile phones and gadgets were collected from all attendees, and media personnel were not invited. On Wednesday, Shubhanshu Shukla completed a week in orbit. In just a week, the Ax-4 astronauts have already played a key role in advancing scientific research. Pilot Shubhanshu 'Shux" Shukla has been conducting experiments that explore how microgravity affects the growth and genetic behaviour of algae and how tardigrades, hardy microscopic creatures, survive and reproduce in space. First Published: July 04, 2025, 10:17 IST
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NFTDC plays vital role across defence, space, medicine & electronics sectors: Kishan Reddy
Hyderabad: Union Minister for Coal and Mines G Kishan Reddy praised the Non-Ferrous Material Technology Development Centre (NFTDC) for its critical contributions to national defense, electronics, electric vehicles (EVs), medicine, space exploration, and other areas by continually advancing technology to meet evolving demands. During his visit to the NFTDC on Thursday, the Union Minister inquired about the ongoing experiments at the centre and later participated in a review meeting with officials. Kishan Reddy acknowledged the guidance received by the organization from distinguished figures, including Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, the Missile Man of India and former President, along with renowned scientists such as B.K. Rava, Dr. P. Rama Rao, and Dr. V. Arunachalam. He highlighted that the specialized materials required for major projects such as Chandrayaan, Mangalyaan, and Gaganyaan, under the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), were sourced from this center using advanced technology. Highlighting the importance of NFTDC in light of the central government's focus on the National Critical Minerals Mission, he indicated that the center will play a crucial role in the recycling and processing of minerals. The Union Minister praised NFTDC for its initiative to develop technology and partner with the private sector to promote further advancements in the field. He advised the officials that if they faced any challenges in their efforts, he would bring those issues to the Prime Minister's attention. In a time characterized by uncertainty in global supply chains for critical minerals, the efforts of NFTDC are steering India toward self-reliance in this sector. Kishan Reddy expressed his aspiration for the institute to become a global hub for advanced magnets and strategic materials technologies.
News18
3 hours ago
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Not Just Spaceflight, Meaningful Science On ISS Matters Most: ISRO Chief On AX-4
Last Updated: ISRO Chairman said that while the spaceflight will boost Shukla's confidence, it is the scientific research he will carry out in microgravity that holds immense significance With Indian pilot Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla currently aboard the International Space Station, ISRO Chairman Dr V Narayanan said that while the spaceflight will certainly boost Shukla's confidence and experience, it is the scientific research he will carry out in microgravity that holds immense significance. The Axiom Mission-4, which lifted off from the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida on Wednesday noon, marks ISRO's first-ever private spaceflight collaboration, with a total investment of Rs 550 crore. The 14-day mission, spearheaded by Axiom Space and NASA, has a four-member crew – one each from the US, India, Hungary and Poland – and marks the first visit of an Indian to the ISS. 'We sent Gaganyaan-astronaut designate Shukla to the ISS. Since the mission is led by another country, and given their expertise, we're confident that he will return safely. The journey was just a little more than an aircraft travel. But the key question is: what is the scientific output?" he said, while addressing scientists during a virtual event on Thursday. ISRO had shortlisted as many as seven experiments for Group Captain Shukla to conduct in microgravity during his 14-day mission. 'While the AX-4 will certainly boost Shukla's confidence and experience, the real value lies in the seven scientific payloads. The experiments focus on how the muscle system behaves in microgravity, how seeds respond when exposed to such an environment, and how their yield characteristics change when grown back on Earth. These are truly interesting areas of study," he emphasised. The noted rocket scientist had remained stationed in the US until the technical issues delaying AX-4 were resolved, with the SpaceX Falcon 9 finally lifting off on 25 June. The national space agency is also preparing for Chandrayaan-4, which plans to collect and bring back lunar samples. While the proposal has been approved by the Cabinet, work is underway to build the necessary infrastructure for the crucial mission. Earlier this year, ISRO also demonstrated in-space docking and undocking – a crucial capability for Chandrayaan-4, which will require two separate lift-offs. 'Everyone in India knows that Chandrayaan-3 soft-landed on the Moon, but how many of them know that it also helped in discovering minerals, and collected crucial data on the electronic cloud, seismic activity, and thermal profile of lunar soil? This knowledge needs to reach the village level. So, when we undertake Chandrayaan-4, the priority is not just bringing back a 300 kg lunar sample, but doing extensive experiments with it," he said. Highlighting ISRO's major mission targets through 2040 – including the setting up of the Bhartiya Antariksh Station and a crewed mission to the Moon – the space agency chief urged scientists to focus more on developing robust and meaningful science experiments. 'This is not the India of 40 years ago. As space scientists, we must be able to justify the crores of rupees spent on our missions and on sending astronauts to space," Dr V Narayanan continued. 'Why are we setting up a space station? Until we conduct useful, meaningful research, we cannot justify it. A lot of science needs to happen – each experiment must be meticulously planned." The ISRO chief on Thursday announced the space agency's flagship event – the 23rd National Science Symposium – to be organised at NESAC, Shillong, in February 2026. First Published: July 04, 2025, 08:44 IST
