Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla back on terra firma after 18-day space expedition
The SpaceX Dragon capsule carrying pilot Shukla and three other crew members, mission commander Peggy Whitson and project astronauts Tibor Kapu and Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski, splashed down off the coast of San Diego, California, at approximately 3:02 pm IST on July 15. The return journey from the ISS to splashdown lasted 22.5 hours.
The Ax-4 mission, seen as a precursor to the Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) upcoming Gaganyaan human spaceflight programme, saw Shukla conduct seven microgravity experiments aboard the ISS, a first for an Indian national. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, welcoming Shukla's return to earth, said, 'As India's first astronaut to have visited the International Space Station, he has inspired a billion dreams through his dedication, courage, and pioneering spirit.' The PM, who also holds the portfolio of space, added that the mission's success marked 'another milestone towards our own Human Space Flight Mission - Gaganyaan.'Shukla, along with his crew members, will spend seven days in a rehabilitation programme. Medical evaluations will be conducted, covering physical fitness, balance, reflexes, cardiovascular functions, and immune response. The astronauts will be debriefed about the mission experience and research experiments. The data will help the partner nations plan future collaborative space missions.
Experts say extended exposure to microgravity can lead to temporary bone loss, muscle weakening, and changes in how fluids move through the body. This can affect everything from blood circulation to organ function. NASA specialists noted that astronauts often return with symptoms like swollen faces, thinner legs, changes in vision, and even a slight increase in height during their time in orbit. ISRO, in a statement earlier, said, 'Gaganyatri Shubhanshu Shukla has successfully completed all seven microgravity experiments and other planned activities, achieving significant milestones in the mission.'The space agency said all planned experiments were successfully completed. These included studies on Indian strains of tardigrades (to observe how microorganisms behave in microgravity), myogenesis (muscle cell development), sprouting of methi and moong seeds, performance of cyanobacteria and microalgae (photosynthetic microbes) and the response of crop seeds in space were recorded. ISRO also sent a 'Voyager Display' experiment, which tested how electronic screens function in microgravity. It was named after NASA's Voyager 1 and 2 spacecraft.Speaking to the media, Jitendra Singh, minister of state for science and technology, said Shux will hold discussions with ISRO experts and undergo debriefings with Axiom Space, SpaceX, and NASA. He added that the experiments conducted will be of relevance for the whole world. The astronaut is expected to be back in New Delhi on August 17."Bharat today finds an enduring Space in the world of Space!" Singh wrote on X.The Ax-4 was launched from Kennedy Space Centre on June 25, during which astronauts from India, Hungary, and Poland, along with NASA veteran Whitson, conducted about 60 scientific experiments. Elevate your knowledge and leadership skills at a cost cheaper than your daily tea. Rumblings at the top of Ola Electric
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