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The National
30-06-2025
- Science
- The National
To boldly grow: India's history-making astronaut farms in space
India 's first astronaut to step aboard the International Space Station (ISS) is carrying out a farming experiment that could help feed astronauts on future missions to the Moon and Mars. Shubhanshu Shukla, a fighter pilot in the Indian Air Force, will attempt to grow mung beans and fenugreek, two edible plants, in microgravity, as part of Axiom Space's fourth private mission to the orbiting laboratory. The experiments are being carried out in partnership with India's space agency, ISRO, which is participating in the mission to help prepare for long-duration crewed flights in the future. It also marks progress for India's plans for human space flight, as it hopes to set up its own space station later this decade. 'Space farming will be a game-changer for long-duration missions to the Moon and Mars because astronauts simply cannot pack months or years' worth of food in a rocket. The weight and cost would be prohibitive,' Dr Dimitra Atri, principal investigator at New York University Abu Dhabi's Space Exploration Laboratory, told The National. The research aboard Axiom-4, which launched on June 25 from Florida and docked with the ISS a day later, focuses on understanding how these plants germinate and grow in a zero-gravity environment. According to Axiom, fenugreek and mung beans were selected for their rapid growth, high nutritional value and ability to adapt to confined conditions. The mung bean seeds were pre-soaked to allow for faster germination, a technique often used in terrestrial agriculture. 'Growing fresh vegetables in space solves this logistical challenge while simultaneously producing oxygen and purifying the air, effectively transforming plants into a comprehensive life support system,' said Dr Atri. 'Additionally, tending to something green and living helps maintain astronauts' psychological well-being during extended stays on the lunar surface or the long, isolated journey to Mars.' Mr Shukla has also been working on a space microalgae experiment, growing sample bags and capturing images of the algae strains. These microscopic organisms could serve as a sustainable, nutrient-rich food source for future deep space missions, according to Axiom Space. Space farming milestones Researchers have been increasingly focusing on farming efforts in space in the past decade, so astronauts can one day produce their own food. In 2015, Nasa astronauts successfully grew red romaine lettuce on the ISS, which was the first time food had been grown, harvested and eaten in space. The lettuce was cultivated using the Veggie Growth Chamber, a portable greenhouse equipped with LED lighting and water pillows. Astronauts harvested radishes aboard the ISS in 2021 in an experiment led by Nasa's Plant Habitat-02 project. The goal was to study how edible root vegetables, like radishes, develop in space and whether they can be cultivated consistently. Experiments like these have helped scientists develop better growth chambers, study how plant genes behave or respond in space conditions and understand how different crops absorb nutrients without soil. Apart from space farming, Mr Shukla is carrying out experiments on muscle loss in microgravity and the behaviour of tardigrades, which are tiny, resilient organisms known for surviving extreme environments. He is also taking part in cognitive performance studies that monitor how astronauts adapt mentally and physically during space flight. A moment of pride for India Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a video call with Mr Shukla aboard the ISS on Saturday, during which he said the mission was a historic moment for the country. 'Today, you are farthest from your motherland, but you are closest to the hearts of 140 crore (a billion) Indians,' Mr Modi told him. Mr Shukla spoke about the challenges of adapting to space, including how basic tasks can be difficult. 'Sleeping is a big challenge … I had to tie my feet down to stay in place,' he said. He also described how Earth appears from orbit, saying: 'From space, one cannot see borders … India appears truly grand, very big … much bigger than on a map.' The astronaut brought a taste of India to orbit by offering his crewmates traditional dishes such as carrot halwa (carrot pudding), moong dal halwa (desert with lentils, ghee and milk) and mango juice. 'My fellow astronauts enjoyed the food,' he said. India's growing space ambitions India has been increasing investment in space exploration efforts, with plans to join the ranks of long-term human spacefaring nations. ISRO is preparing for its first crewed mission under the Gaganyaan programme, which aims to send Indian astronauts to low-Earth orbit aboard a domestically built spacecraft.
Times
18-06-2025
- Science
- Times
Space chiefs set out vision for living in mammoth ‘space oases' in 2040
Humans are living in 'plentiful habitats' in orbit around the Earth and on the surface of the Moon and Mars, with these settlements now known as 'space oases'. We have built 'mammoth constructions' assembled in space for humans to live and work in. Artificially intelligent robots have been sent out to conduct their own expeditions on distant worlds, deciding for themselves whether they should dive down into alien oceans or explore the murky depths of Martian craters. The internet now spreads far beyond Earth and communications systems span the entire solar system as humans become an 'interplanetary species'. Mines have been dug on comets and asteroids to access the scientific secrets and mineral resources within. This is a vision for the year 2040 set out by the European Space Agency, describing 'the space future we wish to build' and a plan for how to achieve it.
Daily Mail
12-06-2025
- Science
- Daily Mail
NASA's response to glam 'astronaut' who said she's headed to space
A young woman who claimed she was picked to be a 'career astronaut' has gotten blowback from NASA about her questionable credentials. The controversy started on June 5 when Laysa Peixoto, 23, took to Instagram to reveal that she was chosen to fly missions to the Moon and Mars after completing NASA astronaut training in 2022. The Brazilian native went on to explain that she was going to join Titan Space's inaugural flight in 2029, which will be led veteran NASA astronaut Bill McArthur. 'It hasn't fully sunk in yet, but I feel immense gratitude for the entire journey I've taken so far and for everyone who has been and is a part of it,' Laysa wrote on the post, which was accompanied by a photo of her taken in a NASA shirt with the New York City skyline in the background. 'I was selected to become a career astronaut, working on manned space flights to private space stations, and for future manned missions to the Moon and Mars,' Laysa said, while adding that she is 'officially an astronaut in the class of 2025'. 'It is a great joy to represent Brazil as an astronaut in such a decisive era of space exploration, which will change the history of humanity forever,' she continued. 'It is an honor to carry the Brazilian flag with me as the first Brazilian woman to cross this frontier.' However, Laysa's claims drew a ruthless response from NASA itself. 'While we generally do not comment on personnel, this individual is not a NASA employee, principal investigator, or astronaut candidate,' NASA said in a statement provided to the Daily Mail, saying she was involved in 'a workshop for students' that 'is not an internship or job at NASA'. 'It would be inappropriate to claim NASA affiliation as part of this opportunity.' Titans Space, which does not have a license from the Federal Aviation Administration to host human spaceflight, confirmed Laysa's participation to Brazilian news outlet Metropoles. However, she is not on the list of astronauts for the potential flight. Laysa attended the Federal University of Minas Gerais but was dismissed in 2023 when she failed to register for the second semester, the school confirmed to Metropoles. Laysa also claimed that she was enrolled in an Application of Computing and Quantum Physics master's degree program at Columbia University. But the Ivy League school told the media outlet that it did not have any records of Laysa attending. Laysa sought to clear any confusion that her Instagram may have caused in a press release statement that was obtained by Brazilian outlet. O Tempo. 'In the announcement made on Instagram, the only statement given so far (June 11), having not checked any interview so far, Laysa explains that she was selected as an astronaut by the private company Titans Space,' Laysa's publicist said. 'At no time is there a mention of NASA, or that it would be an astronaut from the agency. The post was never edited.' However, the Instagram post, which has more than 83,000 likes, had been edited. The press release also indicated that Laysa doesn't have any direct ties to NASA. 'It's explicit and clear: Laysa was selected to become a career astronaut by Titans Space, which will have as mission commander, Bill McArthur, a veteran NASA astronaut - the only mention made about NASA in the post,' the note mentions. The Daily Mail has reached out to Laysa for comment.
