Gp Capt. Shukla shares experience of life aboard ISS with students
The interaction overseen by the Amateur Radio on the ISS (ARISS) saw the participation of approximately 70 students who posed questions on the Indian astronauts journey to the space station and daily routine in the orbiting laboratory.
'One-and-a-half days (journey to the ISS) and thereafter you get to see the ISS... It was very exciting to see and 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,' Gp Capt. Shukla said replying to a question.
His Axiom-4 mission (Ax-4) to the International Space Station (ISS) was launched on June 25, 2025, from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. After a 28-and-a-half-hour journey on the ISS Dragon spacecraft, Gp Capt. Shukla and other crew members reached ISS.
He also spoke about the complex docking process. 'So when we landed in the space station, there were two crew members who were able to reach the docking port. And thereafter you get to see the International Space Station, which is going to be your home for the next 14 days,' he said.
The Gp Capt. also spoke about the experiments he has been conducting in the space station and how sleeping is a challenge there. 'We have to tie our sleeping bags,' he said.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India.com
an hour ago
- India.com
Ever wonder how Indian astronauts communicate with Earth without a signal? they use...
Ever wonder how Indian astronauts communicate with Earth without a signal? they use... In a historic moment for India's space sector, Indian Air Force Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla reached the International Space Station (ISS) as part of the Axiom-4 mission. The Ax-4 mission was launched on June 25 from NASA's Kennedy Space Center, which is located in Florida. Group Captain Shukla, along with other astronauts, took a 28-and-a-half-hour journey on the Dragon spacecraft to reach the ISS. He held a video call with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and also interacted with several Indian students. But do you know how astronauts communicate with Earth when space has no network or mobile towers? Sound Waves Cant Travel As Space Has No Air As we all know, space has no air, and sound waves cannot travel without air, making conventional voice communication impossible. Since sound waves can't be used, astronauts rely on radio waves to communicate with Earth. Notably, sound is a mechanical wave that cannot travel on its own and needs a medium like air or water. The Only Mode Of Communication Is Radio Waves In order to communicate with Earth, astronauts use radio frequencies which is a type of electromagnetic radiation. These waves don't need any medium such as air or water to travel. Astronauts use microphones and transmitters, which are fitted in their helmets, that convert speech into radio signals. These signals then transmitted to Earth through satellite antennas. The ground stations catch these frequencies and convert them back into audio. NASA's Global Communication Network NASA's Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN) system maintains constant contact with spacecraft. This network uses large, strategically placed antennas to ensure uninterrupted communication. Astronauts Use Relay Satellites ISS uses relay satellites to communicate with the Earth. These satellites hover in high Earth orbit and act as intermediaries, catching signals from astronauts and sending those signals to ground stations. The same pattern will be followed whether it's a voice message, video call or an image. Laser-Based Space Communication Is The Future NASA is exploring laser communication technology as a faster, higher-quality alternative to the current radio-based system used for space communication. While radio waves and antenna networks currently maintain contact with spacecraft, laser systems, employing infrared beams, are being developed to significantly improve data transmission speed and clarity.
NDTV
an hour ago
- NDTV
Finally, India's Gaganyatri Inside Iconic Cupola Of International Space Station
New Delhi: Smiling and beaming, looking healthy and happy, India's own Gaganyatri Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla looks out of the famous cupola of the International Space Station (ISS). Group Captain Shukla reached the ISS on June 26 on a 14-day mission and is now completing his assigned scientific tasks. He earlier told Prime Minister Narendra Modi he sees no borders from space. Axiom Space says the crew - commander Peggy Whitson, pilot Shubhanshu "Shux" Shukla, and mission specialists Slawosz "Suave" Uznanski-Wisniewski and Tibor Kapu - have now completed nine productive days aboard the ISS. Since their arrival, the crew has been fully dedicated to their packed schedule of scientific research, technology demonstrations, and global outreach. Each day has marked steady progress toward accomplishing mission objectives as the crew contributes to experiments that could shape the future of space exploration and benefit life on Earth. When PM Modi asked about his first thoughts upon seeing space, Group Captain Shukla shared a profound realisation: "From space, you don't see any borders. The Earth looks united." He emphasised the vastness of India, which appears much larger from orbit than on a map, and spoke of the deep sense of unity and shared humanity that space evokes. Incidentally, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has not released any photos of Group Captain Shukla in space looking out of the cupola and how he views India from space. On July 3 and 4, Group Captain Shukla had participated in outreach events with schoolchildren in Thiruvananthapuram, Bengaluru and his own alma mater, City Montessori School in Lucknow, where over 500 students had a direct interaction with Group Captain Shukla. But till date the Human Space Flight Center (HSFC) of ISRO has not released any of the videos of the heart-warming interactions he may have had in this space to Earth bridge. A much delayed release by ISRO said "through its student outreach activities aims to stoke curiosity of younger minds in space activities, technology and application." In this context, ISRO has planned outreach activities with the Indian student community on the sidelines of the first mission of ISRO's Gaganyatri to the ISS. These events mark a significant moment in ISRO's efforts on awareness of space activities in the younger generation which will drive them to take up challenging careers in the field of science and technology in future and contribute in realising the vision of Viksit Bharat (developed India)". "Thousands across India and the 1.4 billion population are eagerly waiting to see how Group Captain Shukla mesmerised India's youngsters and ignited the minds of the youth to become future Gaganyatri's. Hopefully the HSFC will release these videos soon. Axiom Space said Group Captain Shukla documented the myogenesis investigation, which explores how the absence of gravity accelerates muscle atrophy. This research examines cellular and molecular mechanisms behind skeletal muscle weakening, with the goal of developing countermeasures to preserve muscle health. In another task, Group Captain Shukla deployed and stowed samples for the Space Micro Algae experiment. These microscopic organisms could potentially serve as sources of food, oxygen, and biofuel in future missions and provide sustainable life support systems in deep space exploration. Group Captain Shukla irrigated crop seeds as part of the 'Sprouts project', an experiment designed to explore how spaceflight affects seed germination and plant growth. Following the mission, the seeds will be cultivated over multiple generations on Earth. Researchers will analyze changes in their genetic makeup, microbial communities, and nutritional content. The goal of the 'Sprouts project' is to advance humanity's understanding of sustainable crop production in space for future long-duration missions. Group Captain Shukla recorded a STEM demonstration to illustrate the differences between physical and chemical changes in microgravity. This hands-on experiment highlighted how the absence of gravity alters familiar processes such as mixing substances, phase transitions, and reactions that produce gases or heat. In his 18-minute interaction with PM Modi, Group Captain Shukla said "Bharat looks bhavya". This brought back a flashback to what Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma said in 1984 about India as being "saare jahan se achha".
The Print
an hour ago
- The Print
It's official: New object zipping through our solar system is the 3rd known interstellar visitor
Astronomers are gearing up to observe it across different wavelengths to learn about its composition, shape, and origin. Findings could offer insights into planetary formation in other star systems. With advanced telescopes like the Vera C. Rubin Observatory in Chile, scientists said that more such interstellar visitors may soon follow. Its open, hyperbolic path confirms its origin beyond our Sun's gravitational grip. Currently, it is just inside Jupiter's orbit and will pass through the inner solar system in October, providing us a brief but exciting window for study. Signs of a tail visible in it suggest it's behaving like a comet, venting gas and dust as it heats up. New Delhi: Astronomers have spotted a rare celestial visitor: 3I/ATLAS, the third confirmed object from outside our solar system. Discovered on July 1 by a telescope in Chile that's part of NASA's ATLAS project, this object is moving at a record 68 km per second, which is faster than any interstellar body seen before. The discovery was described in a circular by the France-based International Astronomical Union on 2 July. New gene therapy holds promise for the hearing impaired Gene therapy is showing real promise for people with congenital deafness, according to a new international study involving Sweden's Karolinska Institute. In a peer-reviewed paper published on 2 July in Nature Medicine Journal, researchers described how they treated 10 patients, aged 1 to 24, in five different hospitals, who had severe hearing loss caused by mutations in the OTOF gene. This gene affects a protein called otoferlin, which is needed to send sound signals from the ear to the brain. The researchers injected a healthy copy of the gene directly into the inner ear. The results were remarkable with most patients regaining some hearing within a month, and all showed significant improvement after six months. The best responses came from children aged 5 to 8. One seven-year-old even began holding conversations within four months. The treatment was also deemed to be safe, with no serious side effects reported in the first 12 months. Researchers are now looking to expand this approach to treat other genetic causes of deafness, using the same gene therapy method. Also Read: That morning brew could be doing more than just jumpstarting your day—helping your cells age gracefully Forest collapse some 252 million years ago A new study has revealed that the worst extinction event on the Earth, 252 million years ago, led to the collapse of tropical forests, whose effects were felt for millions of years after. During what is known as the Permian-Triassic 'Great Dying' event, there was a lot of global warming caused by volcanic activity in Siberia. This global warming was seen as the main reason why most of the living beings died off. But scientists were confused about why the Earth's temperature remained so high even millions of years after the eruptions. Now, researchers from the University of Leeds and the China University of Geosciences in a new peer-reviewed study published 2 July in Nature Communications Journal suggest that the destruction of tropical forests due to the extinction event drastically slowed down carbon sequestration—the process by which plants trap carbon dioxide. Without forests, CO₂ built up and stayed in the atmosphere, keeping the planet hot. They studied ancient fossils and rocks to reconstruct changes in plant life and climate. Their data matched simulations showing how forest loss could explain the prolonged warming. The findings, according to the study, serve as a stark warning: if today's tropical forests collapse due to climate change, we might trigger a similar long-term climate crisis. The first ever complete human genome sequenced from Egypt In a new breakthrough, Italian and British scientists have sequenced the first complete human genome from ancient Egypt, using DNA extracted from a 4,500 to 4,800-year-old skeleton. The study was published in Nature Journal on 2 July. The man whose genome was sequenced lived during the era of the first pyramids and was buried in a hillside tomb in southern Egypt. Genetic analysis shows his ancestry was about 80 percent North African and 20 percent West Asian, which shows the first ever DNA-based evidence of human movement between Egypt and Mesopotamia. The remains reveal signs of hard physical labour, possibly as a potter, though the elaborate burial suggests a higher social status. Extracting ancient DNA from Egypt has long been a challenge due to heat-related degradation of the samples, but new techniques have made this feat possible. This individual's genome opens a new window into Egypt's early history and human migration. Researchers hope future collaborations with Egyptian institutions will expand understanding of ancestry and movement in the ancient world. (Edited by Tony Rai) Also Read: Where no humanoid has gone before: Italian scientists develop world's first flying robot
