Axiom-4 Mission: Creating our own space
ANI Representational Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) is all set to dock at ISS today. The international crew, including India's Shubhanshu Shukla, will conduct over 60 experiments in microgravity biology, health sciences, AI and materials research. Shukla's experience will bolster India's Gaganyaan mission, slated for 2026-27, and enhance its preparedness for future human spaceflightAs Shukla begins his mission, India's scientific contributions are also making their presence felt in space.
Research: Ax-4 carries with it 7 cutting-edge research experiments, focusing on space biology and bioengineering: 1. Microalgae growth under space radiation by International Centre for Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology (ICGEB) and National Institute of Plant Genome Research (NIPGR). 2. Seed sprouting in microgravity by University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad, and IIT Dharwad.3. Gene expression studies on survival and adaptation of tardigrades in space by IISc Bangalore.4. Research on muscle regeneration under microgravity, led by inStem, on the effects of metabolic supplements.5. Another IISc-led project examines human interaction with electronic displays in orbital environments.6. ICGEB also contributes a study comparing nutrient utilisation in cyanobacteria using urea and nitrate in microgravity.
7. Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST) and Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) project investigates the impact of microgravity on crop growth and yield.
These diverse yet complementary studies are vital steps toward developing bioregenerative life support systems, essential for sustaining human life during long-duration space missions and future space settlements.
Strategic implications: Ax-4 supports the Gaganyaan roadmap and future missions by providing real-time exposure and hands-on experience in space medicine, orbital operations, crew management, mission planning and bioastronautics. While Shukla is in orbit, several other Indians involved in on-ground mission support will be gaining invaluable insight into managing complex space missions.
Future ready: This mission also aligns with India's BioE3 policy, which focuses on developing national leadership in biotech and space-based life sciences. In the long term, such experiences will feed into India's goal of establishing the Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS) by 2035 and sending a crewed mission to the moon by 2040. The future includes a series of uncrewed test flights under the Gaganyaan programme, which will validate critical technologies and strengthen mission readiness. By the end of the decade, development of BAS is expected to begin, with its initial modules likely to launch around 2028. Together, Gaganyaan and BAS will become twin pillars of India's human spaceflight efforts, both as platforms for advanced research and hubs for international collaboration.The global space landscape is evolving rapidly. Several commercial and national space stations are either planned or under construction. These include Axiom Space's private station, Blue Origin's Orbital Reef, StarLab (a US-Japan collaboration), Russia's proposed ROS, Nasa's Lunar Gateway, and China's Tiangong Station. These ventures reflect a shift from purely government-led missions to multi-stakeholder platforms supporting research, industry and space tourism.To remain an active and influential participant in this new era, India must deepen its international engagements, forging partnerships with national agencies and private space firms. This will not only expand opportunities for vyomanauts to fly aboard missions beyond Gaganyaan, but also reinforce India's position as avital contributor to humanity's shared journey into space.Ax-4 highlights the increasing importance of science diplomacy and technological exchange in a rapidly evolving, multipolar space ecosystem. For India, it rekindles the spacefaring legacy first ignited in 1984 with cosmonaut Rakesh Sharma, and now propels the nation toward a more active, independent and globally integrated role in human spaceflight.Ax-4 is not merely a journey to ISS but also a bold leap into the future, unlocking new pathways for scientific discovery, international cooperation and the vast potential of human presence beyond Earth. It stands as a powerful symbol of how India is poised to leapfrog into the next era of space exploration, not as a follower but as a frontrunner in shaping the future of humanity in space.
Adefining trait of India's space journey has been Isro's philosophy of learning before leading. It has strategically partnered global agencies to absorb knowledge, develop expertise and build indigenous capability. From early collaborations with the Soviet Union and Nasa to mastering satellite tech, launch vehicles, interplanetary missions and now human spaceflight, Isro has consistently transformed each international engagement into a foundation for selfreliant progress. Ax-4 is another such milestone, an opportunity to learn from the best, and then translate those insights into India's own systems, missions and ambitions. It reinforces a model that has long defined Isro's brand: quiet resilience, scientific excellence and pursuit of sovereign strength in space.
The writer is former chairman, Isro
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