Shubhanshu Shukla says excitement to do more experiments posing difficulty to fall asleep
'I am doing a lot of experiments and these are challenging and exciting. All of these experiments have been planned by ISRO-NASA. But there are a few that I particularly like, especially the one on stem cells. We know there is limited time (onboard the ISS) but we want to do more and more (experiments). But we need to get rest to do the experiments,' said Shukla, along with demonstrating maneuvers and space-moves to be done to get tasks done. He also showed students his sleeping bag.
Shukla was live on ham radio for less than ten minutes when the ISS was passing close to the horizon around 3.47pm on Friday, July 4.
The ham radio communication was made to the UR Rao Satellite Centre in Bengaluru via telebridge (partly phone-partly ham connection), with the ground station located in Greenbelt, Maryland, US. Shukla was given a set of select questions prepared by students from all over India, who were shortlisted under three categories. Nearly 145 students joined live from Thiruvananthapuram and a similar number connected from Lucknow and Bengaluru.
As the ISS orbits the Earth at an average speed of over 27,000 km/hr making 16 orbits/day, the best possible bandwidth for establishing ham radio communication generally lasts for just five to eight minutes.
Shukla's voice was filled with excitement as he took on the questions and gave quick, short answers each ending with 'over' — hinting at the next question he was proceeding to take up. Shukla spoke about the ride onboard SpaceX's Crew Dragon on June 25, the tiny capsule, the accelerating speeds and the one-and-a-half days of 'floating' in space till docking at the ISS and how his body faced hardships in adapting to the new conditions in space.
The Axiom-4 mission is led by NASA, in partnership with ISRO and the European Space Agency. On the role of this international collaboration, Shukla said: ' I think international collaboration is the key for the success of a mission to the ISS and space. Even for our mission, Axiom-4, ISRO, NASA and ESA… everyone came together to make this mission happen. I have realised the power of global collaboration. Working with many people of different nationalities is an entirely exciting experience. So definitely, global collaboration is the key and I look forward to more such missions.'
Indian food also touched 'new heights' with Shukla's Ax-4. He is carrying with him three delicacies – aamaras, moong dal halwa, and gajar halwa.
'These foods were prepared by ISRO in collaboration with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (ISRO). I shared these foods with everybody and they loved and appreciated it.'
The Earth's view from space, Shukla said, was the most beautiful one from onboard the ISS.
'The most exciting part about being in space is looking back at earth from the vantage point. It is big, very beautiful and reminded me of how fortunate we are to be on this planet. It is also a realisation of how important this planet is with everything we have.'
Shukla will make the second and final communication using ham radio at 2.08pm on July 8 with the Human Spaceflight Center at the North Eastern Space Applications Centre (NESAC) in Meghalaya.
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Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
Sleeping on ISS most difficult task: Shubhanshu
A week on board the International Space Station (ISS), Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla says sleeping is difficult. Not because there's too much to do, but because the time is limited. On June 26, Shukla scripted history on being the first Indian astronaut on board ISS. Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla 'The most difficult task is to go to sleep because of the time that is around you. You know you are here for a short time and you want to do more and more,' said Shukla during his interaction with school students from India via Ham radio on Friday afternoon. 'But as you understand that there are activities planned, you also need to get rest.' In his 10-minute communication starting 3.47pm, Shukla, who connected to Isro's UR Rao Satellite Centre, Bengaluru, answered questions on his experience flying to space, experiments he is undertaking and importance of international collaboration for the success of a space mission like Axiom-4. His outreach via amateur radio interaction was livestreamed by Space India, which is an educational organisation working with schools across India. Since docking on June 26, the astronauts by end of July 3, have completed approximately 113 orbits around Earth, covering over 2.9 million miles - that's nearly 12 times the distance between Earth and the Moon. During his two- weeks on ISS, Shukla, who represents Isro, has been commissioned to perform seven home grown experiments and five scientific studies as part of Isro-NASA collaboration. Describing all the experiments as challenging and exciting, Shukla said he particularly finds a few that he is conducting on ISS 'interesting'. 'Especially the one concerned with stem cells,' he pointed. As exciting as the experience has been, Shukla also said it's hard since the body has to adapt to new conditions. On being asked if he shared the Indian food - amras, moong dal halwa and gajjar ka halwa developed by DRDO and Isro - with other astronauts, the 39-year-old said, 'I must tell you that everybody here loved it and we sat together and shared the food and they appreciated how good these were. And it was a good moment. We brought together foods from different countries and got to share it together with all the crew on the station.' Stating that rocket launch was very dynamic, the Lucknow resident recounted his journey to ISS. 'The experience was exhilarating.. (the rocket launch) was very fast, and as you go higher you go faster. The accelerations were quite high.' As he explained that the rocket goes in two stages, Shukla said, 'The first stage was fast. And the second stage accelerates due to the velocity of 8kms per second.' He pointed out that the Ax-4 mission was the 'power of global collaboration', one that allowed him to look at the earth from space. 'It (the earth) is big. It is very beautiful and it reminded me of how fortunate we are to be in this planet and with everything we have.' A week on ISS, a statement from Axiom Space read, 'In just seven days, the Ax-4 astronauts have already made significant contributions to scientific more than a hundred sunrises and sunsets witnessed from orbit, the Ax-4 mission is advancing science progress in space and inspiring a new generation of explorers.' By the end of their time on ISS, the Ax-4 mission comprising commander Peggy Whitson, mission pilot Shukla and mission specialists Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski and Tibor Kapu would have conducted 60 experiments representing 31 countries.
Indian Express
2 hours ago
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How astronauts feast on ISS
Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla has been in space for more than a week, and would have had several meals during this period. On Friday, Shukla said he had shared the food he carried to the International Space Station (ISS) — gajar ka halwa, moong dal ka halwa and aamras — with other astronauts onboard. Having a meal in space is not a piece of cake. It requires planning and organisation. But this does not mean that astronauts eat frugally or depend only on liquid diets. The food is also far from being bland or unappetising. In fact, on the ISS, the permanent space laboratory where Shukla is currently staying, astronauts often enjoy elaborate meals. It is just that they eat packaged food, which is stored and prepared a little differently. Due to zero-gravity conditions, food items, like everything else in space, tend to float around. This necessitates a level of organisation not required on Earth. The spacecraft's safety could be compromised if small crumbs or loose pieces get stuck in some of its critical parts. These can also enter the mouths or nostrils of astronauts, leading to choking or creating breathing problems. As a result, food items are carefully chosen and properly packaged. The act of eating itself, that is, food travelling inside the body's digestive tract, is not a problem. While gravity might help this process on Earth, it is not a necessity. Put simply, only management of food is an issue in space. Astronauts consume packaged and processed food items, which are usually in dehydrated form. They inject hot water through a needle into the packages before eating the dishes. Shukla's gajar ka halwa and moong dal ka halwa — prepared and packed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) — would also have been in this form. Beverages such as tea, coffee or juices, and Shukla's aamras, are usually in powder form, which can be mixed with water before consumption. There is provision for heating the food on the ISS. Astronauts on the space station usually have their breakfast and dinner together. Before eating, they secure themselves with footholds to restrict movement. Every astronaut has a food tray with some utensils, including spoons and forks. The cutlery and food packets are fastened to the tray with velcro. Astronauts are advised to snip open only a small part of the package, and dip their spoons inside to pick the food out. Seasonings such as salt and pepper are available, but they are typically dissolved in water which can be added to the food through droppers. After their meals, waste such as food packets is deposited in waste chambers, while cutlery is cleaned with wipes. Utensils cannot be washed with water. A variety of food choices are available, and astronauts can select their menu or favourite cuisine months ahead of their travel. Once they have made their selection, nutritionists also weigh in with their recommendations to ensure astronauts meet the dietary requirements in space. For instance, astronauts need more calcium, and less sodium and vitamin D to keep their bones healthy. Such food arrangements for astronauts are relatively new. Early space travellers had to make do mostly with food paste, packaged in toothpaste-like tubes or bite-sized cubes. When confined to a spacecraft, like during the journey to the ISS, these forms of food are still useful due to space and storage constraints. Despite technical advancements in packaging, storing, and preparing food items, scientists are now actively working on ideas for growing food in space. This is because, in recent years, astronauts have begun spending a lot more time in space. For example, those going to the ISS typically spend a few months at a time. Due to this, all their food requirements are not transported on the same spacecraft that carries them. Cargo missions to the ISS fly at regular intervals, carrying food, apart from other requirements such as maintenance gear and scientific equipment. Also, various space agencies and private companies are now planning even longer stays in space, including the possibility of creating a permanent settlement on the Moon. There are also plans to travel much further distances than ever before in space — on such missions, it might not be economical to supply food from Earth. Space-grown plants, for example, can provide a sustainable food source for such missions. Scientists are currently studying different aspects of growing food in space, and exploring various methods to do so. For instance, they are examining the effects of microgravity on the growth of plants. They are also making attempts to use LED lights to induce photosynthesis. Researchers are developing soilless systems in which plants can be grown in space, and selecting crops most suited to grow in these conditions. Potatoes, soybean, wheat, spinach, tomatoes, and carrots are some crops that have shown promise for space cultivation. ISRO is carrying out multiple experiments related to this subject during Shukla's stay at the ISS. At least six different varieties of crop seeds will be grown and studied. There is a separate experiment on the growth of microalgae as well. Besides food, these microalgae can be used as potential fuel or even used in life support systems.
Time of India
6 hours ago
- Time of India
Ax-4: Students go orbital with Shux in live chat
1 2 Lucknow: From floating dinners to ceiling-less sleep, students at City Montessori School, Lucknow — alma mater of astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla — were treated to a rare window into life aboard the International Space Station (ISS) during a live interaction on Thursday. Speaking from orbit as part of Isro's Vidyarthi Samvad programme, Shukla — the first Indian aboard the ISS — shared anecdotes from his Axiom-4 mission journey. "The launch was powerful and unforgettable," he said, before delving into everyday life in microgravity. "There's no up or down here. We sleep secured inside sleeping bags. Otherwise, we might drift into another module! Meals, too, are tailored for space, with astronauts pre-selecting dishes they enjoy. We test different foods before launch — whatever we like, gets packed," Shukla said. Curious minds also asked about health in orbit. "We carry a medical kit and are trained to handle small issues," Shukla assured. Addressing the physical toll of space, he said: "In weightlessness, muscles weaken fast. So, we work out daily — cycling while floating and using resistance machines." Shukla's description of Earth from above drew audible gasps from the audience. "It's beautiful," he said. Also present was Gaganyaan astronaut-designate Group Captain Angad Pratap, who urged students to chase careers in science and space. "India's space future is bright. You could be the next to launch," he said, inspiring wide-eyed applause. In a separate 10-minute communication, a group of 70 students got lucky on Friday as they tuned into a HAM radio session with Shukla, who spoke to them from the ISS. At the Isro's UR Rao Satellite Centre (URSC) in Bengaluru, Shukla spoke to them about life on the ISS, the travel there, and how excited he was about his scientific experiments. He also told them that he was excited about his research work, especially those involving stem cells. The URSC communication was facilitated through the global Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) initiative. Though 20 questions were shortlisted for Shukla, only a handful could be asked owing to time constraints. Isro did not broadcast the interaction live, but several amateur (HAM) radio operators worldwide managed to capture parts of the downlink, albeit with patchy audio. In one audible section, Shukla described the docking: "...The entire process of how the capsule approaches the station and then positions itself right in line with the docking port, and thereafter goes ahead and docks into the port... It was a very, very exciting moment for me." While details of all 70 students were not made available publicly, Mysuru-based Excel Public School said six of their licenced student HAM operators — Bhuvan PM (call sign: VU2NQH), Namasyu A (VU3IHV), Tanish Tejaswi MS (VU2ITM), Pranav CN (VU3IIC), Vishruth R (VU3IIB), and Sanat Raj G (VU3IHU) — established radio contact using ARISS ground station infrastructure. "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to apply what we've learnt in real time," said a statement from the students, who were in Bengaluru for the interaction. The school's HAM club (VU2TQA), active since 2023, does satellite tracking, antenna building and ISS signal decoding. Recognised as an Isro Space Tutor, Excel regularly conducts astronomy outreach. "It's a proud moment for our students and for India," said Mathew KG, the principal.
