
ISRO shares full account of astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla's Axiom-4 space mission
In the meantime, ISRO, which had sent Shukla on the mission and invested Rs 550 crore on it, said that the safety and health of its astronaut was its top most priority. The ISRO team also shared a detailed account of the works Shukla had undertaken during his 21-day long space mission, of which 18 days were spent on the International Space Station.
ISRO stated that Shukla had adapted exceptionally well to the zero-gravity environment in space. Despite the physical and psychological challenges of spaceflight, he maintained optimal health throughout the mission. He also captured and shared a wide array of photographs and videos documenting his life and works during the low Earth orbit mission.
ISRO-led scientific experiments completed
Shukla completed a suite of seven microgravity experiments developed by Indian research institutions under the Human Space Flight Centre's (HSFC) coordination.
These experiments explored muscle regeneration, algal growth, crop viability, microbial survivability, cognitive performance in space, and the behaviour of cyanobacteria - each aimed at enhancing understanding of human spaceflight and microgravity science.
The experiments included- Space Microalgae (developed by ICGEB and BRIC-NIPGR, New Delhi): It assessed the growth and radiation response of edible algae; Myogenesis (developed by BRIC-InStem, Bengaluru): Under this the muscle regeneration with supplement treatment were studied; sprouting of methi and moong seeds in microgravity (developed by UAS & IIT Dharwad); life, resilience and aging pattern of tardigrade (designed by IISc, Bengaluru); cognitive testing with in-flight user interface displays of electronic displays (also designed by IISc, Bengaluru); comparative growth and proteomics of Cyanobacteria in Microgravity (developed by ICGEB, New Delhi); and Impact of microgravity on seed physiology on food crop seeds (developed by IIST and KAU, Thiruvananthapuram).

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Malayalam actress once-secret husband is astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla's Gaganyaan crewmate. Why they kept their marriage hidden for months. Who is Prasanth Nair?
In a rare moment where cinema met space, Malayalam actor Lena has tugged at the internet's heartstrings with an emotional Instagram post. The video shows her husband, Indian Air Force pilot and astronaut Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair , warmly embracing astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla and the Axiom-4 crew as they returned from space. What made the reel even more moving was Lena's clever choice of background score—Hans Zimmer's iconic Interstellar theme, which gave the real-life footage a cinematic, almost surreal, touch. Who is Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair? As per the Axiom Space website, Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair is a decorated Indian Air Force test pilot and astronaut. A recipient of the prestigious Sword of Honour at the Hyderabad Air Force Academy. He was born on August 26, 1976, in Thiruvazhiyad, Kerala. He graduated top of his class at the US Air Force Air Command and Staff College in Alabama. Nair was among the four astronauts handpicked by ISRO for the Gaganyaan mission —India's first human spaceflight—and underwent rigorous training at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre in Russia. On February 27, 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi officially revealed him as part of India's astronaut team. He served as the backup pilot for Axiom Mission 4 . Had astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla been unable to fly, Nair would have taken his place on the historic mission. Given his integral training role, he formed a close bond with the crew, making Shukla's emotional welcome all the more heartfelt. His secret marriage to Malayalam actress On February 27, 2024, Lena also revealed their secret marriage—news she had been legally required to keep under wraps until the official announcement of Nair's role. She confirmed that she married Group Captain Prasanth on January 17, 2024, in a traditional ceremony. The post included a montage of clips. About Malayalam actress Lena Actress Lena has worked in popular movies like Pushpaka Vimanam, Ouseppinte Osyath, Kanyaka Talkies, Spirit, Traffic and many other movies. She was last seen in Nancy Rani and has Valathu Vashathe Kallan in the pipeline. About Gaganyaan Mission India's ambitious human spaceflight programme, Gaganyaan, has now entered its final phase, with the country gearing up to send its first astronauts into space in early 2027. This milestone mission will see a crew of three Indian astronauts launched into a 400-km low Earth orbit for a three-day mission, culminating in a safe splashdown in Indian sea waters. The four Indian Air Force pilots, selected as astronaut-designates, have already completed their foundational training in Russia. They are currently undergoing mission-specific training in India, which includes rigorous assessments of their physical health, psychological fitness, and simulation-based readiness.


India Today
an hour ago
- India Today
Isro likely to launch joint Nisar mission with Nasa by end of July
The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) is on the cusp of a historic moment as it prepares to launch the Nasa-Isro Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite by the end of July from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in the NISAR spacecraft and the GSLV-F16 launch vehicle are currently undergoing final checks and extensive reviews at the spaceport, in what marks the concluding phase of a mission more than a decade in the sources confirmed to that the satellite and its launch vehicle have reached Sriharikota, and the mission is entering its last leg. Nisar's mission is to provide unprecedented coverage of the planet. (Photo: Nasa) Detailed technical reviews and integration processes are underway, and the leadership is optimistic about an on-schedule liftoff before July represents the most expensive satellite project undertaken by Isro and Nasa, with a combined cost of $1.5 billion. It is the world's first Earth observation mission to utilise dual-frequency radar technology, blending Nasa's L-band and Isro's S-band Isro's Geosynchronous Launch Vehicle (GSLV) pushes this $1.5 billion mission into orbit, Nisar will unfold its 13-metre diameter radar antenna like an origami masterpiece to begin a systematic scan of Earth's entire to orbit the planet every 12 days, NISAR will offer three-dimensional, centimetre-level mapping of Earth's land and ice surfaces, providing critical data for monitoring ecosystems, natural hazards, and climate mission is to provide unprecedented coverage of the planet. For three years, it will monitor the Earth's land surface and interior for subtle changes due to earthquakes, volcanoes, and human activities; its cryosphere for unprecedented melting of polar ice sheets and glaciers caused by climate change; and its coastal and ground waters for impacts of floods and aquifer usage. A key highlight of the mission is its commitment to open science. (Photo: Isro) A key highlight of the mission is its commitment to open science: data collected by NISAR will be made freely available to researchers and governments worldwide, making it a global asset in tracking natural disasters, infrastructure changes, and environmental only the comprehensive final reviews left to complete, the anticipation surrounding the NISAR mission is building launched, NISAR will cement India's role as a frontline player in international space collaboration and Earth science advancement.- EndsMust Watch


News18
2 hours ago
- News18
Opinion: India's Space Odyssey Under PM Narendra Modi
Last Updated: India's space missions symbolise our determination to push boundaries and be at the forefront of space exploration India's space programme achieved a historic milestone with Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla's participation in Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4), marking a significant step in the nation's human spaceflight journey. Shukla, a 39-year-old Indian Air Force (IAF) test pilot, became the first Indian astronaut to visit the International Space Station (ISS) and the second Indian in space after Rakesh Sharma. This achievement, 41 years after Sharma's flight, underscores India's growing prowess in space exploration and its strategic use of international partnerships to advance its ambitions, under the aegis of the Modi government. Selected as one of the four astronauts for ISRO's Gaganyaan mission, India's first indigenous human spaceflight programme, Shukla underwent rigorous training at Russia's Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center. During his 18-day stay on the ISS, Shukla conducted over 60 scientific experiments, including seven designated by ISRO. A key experiment, Myogenesis, conducted at the Life Sciences Glovebox, explored skeletal muscle degradation in microgravity, aiming to develop therapies for astronauts and patients with muscle-degenerative diseases on Earth. These experiments will bolster India's microgravity research ecosystem, enhancing its scientific capabilities. Shukla also engaged in public outreach, including a live videoconference with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and ham radio sessions with students, inspiring the next generation to pursue STEM fields. For India, Ax-4 was a strategic step toward the Gaganyaan mission, scheduled for 2027, which aims to send Indian astronauts into low Earth orbit using indigenous technology. The Ax-4 mission, costing approximately Rs 548 crore, solidified India's position as an emerging space power, inspiring millions and paving the way for future endeavors, including a planned space station by 2035 and a lunar mission by 2040. Remember, even before the Axiom mission, India witnessed history being created on August 23, 2023, as part of the Chandrayaan-3 mission. With the soft landing on the lunar south pole, on the dark side of the moon, India became the 1st country to land on the lunar south pole and only the 4th country in the world, after the United States, Russia, and China, to have achieved the magnificent feat of landing on the moon. India's Space economy is expected to be worth over $13 billion by 2025, endorsing PM Modi's ambitious Space-oriented plans. The Chandrayaan-2 mission cost India Rs 978 crore. But the Chandrayaan-3 project cost was much lower at Rs 615 crore. Again, India's first solar mission, Aditya-L1, came at a cost of merely Rs 378 crore, to study the photosphere, chromosphere, and the outermost layers of the Sun (the corona). In 2017, ISRO launched a record 104 satellites aboard PSLV-C37 from Sriharikota, of which 101 belonged to international customers, signifying India's increasing presence in the global Space industry. There was a time when India was denied cryogenic rocket technology. But the scientists of India not only developed indigenous technology but today with its help, dozens of satellites are being sent to Space simultaneously. Space, the final frontier, has captivated our imagination since time immemorial. The call of the cosmos and the curiosity to know more about our origin, is the driving force for Space explorations. But venturing into Space is costly and dangerous. India's Chandrayaan-2 mission encountered a setback in 2019 when the lander Vikram failed to achieve a soft landing on the moon's surface. However, from this failure, India learned valuable lessons. PM Modi did not flinch even for a moment and like a true leader, he stood in solidarity with India's scientific community. The Chandrayaan-2 mission served as a catalyst for innovation, prompting the scientific community to analyse and rectify the challenges faced. In fact, it is the orbiter of Chandrayaan-2 which has been providing key inputs in real-time, to help its successor Chandrayaan-3 which eventually made a flawless landing on the moon on August 23, 2023. Indian Space forays under the Modi government are helping in sectors such as agriculture, railways, smart cities, water-mapping, robotic surgery and defence. PM Modi's unwavering support for ISRO and his endorsement of cost-effective Space missions aligns with the nation's ethos of frugality, allowing India to achieve remarkable feats without burdening its economy. Moreover, Modi's emphasis on the practical applications of Space technology in agriculture, disaster management and national security underscore his commitment to harnessing Space capabilities for the betterment of Indian society. India's space missions symbolise our determination to push boundaries and be at the forefront of space exploration. ISRO operates on a modest budget; the Mars orbiter, Mangalyaan, for example, had a price tag of just $75 million, less than the cost of an average Hollywood blockbuster like say Interstellar which had a far higher budget of $165 million. As India continues its journey into the unknown, exploring the moon and beyond, it inspires and instills hope for a brighter future. Well, India's tryst with the dark side of the moon showcases how a leap of faith is sometimes, all that it takes to leapfrog a million years ahead. India has launched about 557 satellites, including 431 foreign satellites for 34 countries as of July 30, 2023, primarily through ISRO's commercial arm, NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), formerly Antrix. This includes a record-breaking launch of 104 satellites in a single mission in 2017, with 101 being foreign satellites. Total satellites launched under the aegis of PM Modi are 450, both Indian and foreign. Out of the 431 foreign satellites launched by India until 2023, over 389 were launched between 2014 and 2023 itself, endorsing that a significant portion of foreign launches occurred under Modi's leadership. ISRO, for instance, conducted 58 launch vehicle missions between 2014 and 2025, a 38% increase from the 42 missions before 2014. Clearly, India's Space Odyssey under the Modi government is set to conquer many milestones, with the just concluded Axiom Mission 4, being just the tip of the iceberg. Sanju Verma is an Economist, National Spokesperson for BJP, and Bestselling Author of 'The Modi Gambit'. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18's views. First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.