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Chinese scientists discover mysterious bacteria on Tiangong space station
On board the Tiangong space station, Chinese researchers have identified a new kind of bacteria. The new microbe strain, officially known as Niallia tiangongensis, was discovered in microbial samples taken from the surfaces of the Tiangong during the Shenzhou 15 crewed mission, which returned to Earth in June 2023, according to a paper published in the International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology.
According to descriptions, the new microorganism is a rod-shaped, aerobic bacterium that forms spores. On board Tiangong, a three-module space station in low Earth orbit, a new microbial species has been found for the first time.
Chinese researchers found mysterious bacteria: About the Mutations
According to the study, the bacteria is identical to the terrestrial species Niallia circulans. However, scientists found that the space strain had important genetic differences. The mutations can help scientists understand the evolution of bacteria beyond Earth.
The bacterium exhibits a unique ability to break down gelatine, a trait that could support microbial life in nutrient-poor or extreme environments. Two proteins in Niallia tiangongensis experienced structural and functional changes, according to the study. These changes may improve the bacterium's ability to form biofilms, respond to oxidative stress, and repair radiation damage.
Chinese found mysterious bacteria: Is it helpful in future?
According to scientists, this research suggests how bacteria survive in space. It is currently unknown if astronauts' health might be at risk due to this new strain. However, research into these microbes is essential for both mission security and space sanitation. By monitoring microbiological life on spacecraft, unintended contamination is avoided.
The discovery of new microbes in space is not unprecedented. The strains of new bacteria had also been identified from the International Space Station (ISS), which the scientists say would be helpful in growing crops on Mars. According to a recent study, 26 new bacterial strains were found in NASA clean rooms, which are among the world's most sterile settings.
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Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
From chicken noodle soup to Indian fish curry, space menu gets upgrade as scientists spice up food for astronauts
Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Additional spices and seasonings—cumin, sugar, cayenne pepper, cashews, turmeric, black pepper, coriander, and freeze-dried cilantro flakes— make up less than 1% of weight each, yet they are measured with precise, decimal-point accuracy. This meticulously crafted ingredients list for an Indian fish curry recipe isn't from the kitchens of celebrity one of the nearly five-dozen carefully engineered items on the menu developed for the astronauts of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). This culinary creation is documented by the US space agency in its technical paper from March the core of it is an Indian-origin American professor.'Early space missions focused mainly on safe and nutritional food. Palatability was never a priority,' says Suresh Pillai, professor, department of food science and technology, Texas A&M University (TAMU). Pillai heads the state-of-the-art food R&D laboratory that has been designing meals for NASA astronauts since 2005. Today, approximately 30% of the food sent to the International Space Station (ISS) is designed and developed by Pillai and his team at the university.'I can confidently say that Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla will enjoy a far more palatable meal in space than Rakesh Sharma did over four decades ago,' says Pillai, though he clarifies that he's not privy to the exact menu planned for the upcoming Axiom Mission 4 (also called Ax-4) to the space station where Shukla is set to join as a the Commander's Cove bar in College Station, Texas, the nights come alive when a 63-year-old DJ—known to clubbers as Deep Spin Prof—takes control of the decks, unleashing a cocktail of electronic dance music, tech house, rap and as the sun rises, Deep Spin Prof morphs back into his other, more formal identity: Professor Suresh Pillai, a groundbreaking food in Golden Rock, Tamil Nadu, Pillai's roots trace back to Thrissur in Kerala, from where his parents hailed. With a bachelor's degree in botany and master's in industrial microbiology from Madras University, he ventured to US in 1986 to pursue a PhD in microbiology and immunology at the University of Arizona, 2005, Pillai has been at the forefront of developing safe and nutritious space cuisine. Between 2014 and 2018, he also lent his expertise to the US Food and Drug Administration's Science Advisory Board.'If you are paying so many dollars to be a space tourist, you wouldn't want to settle for just a pouch of food, would you?' asks Pillai. 'Can we develop the next generation of space meals—dishes that rival the finest first-class airline cuisine — while still prioritising safety and nutrition? After all, we have to make sure a space tourist doesn't end up with diarrhoea,' he the concept of space colonisation hitting a critical mass, it was only a matter of time the menu got an upgrade—chicken noodle soup, Indian fish curry, chocolate pudding and Pillai points out, now scientists have to think of not just seasoned astronauts but also future tourists and deep-space explorers bound for the Moon and Mars. Group Captain Shukla, an IAF fighter pilot deputed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for the Ax-4 mission — a private endeavour in collaboration with NASA — will become India's second astronaut to venture into space after Rakesh Sharma's historic 1984 flight. It is scheduled to launch on June 10 from the Kennedy Space Center in will be the first Indian astronaut to board the ISS, a football field-sized orbiting laboratory, has hosted over 260 astronauts from 21 countries since Expedition 1 docked on November 2, 2000, according to NASA's records as of May 2023. The station includes six sleeping quarters, two bathrooms, a gym and a 360-degree-view bay window for other three crew members of Ax-4 include Peggy Whitson, the American mission commander, Sławosz UznanskiWisniewski, a European Space Agency project astronaut from Poland, and Tibor Kapu from Hungary. The astronauts are slated to spend up to 14 days aboard the ISS, conducting a variety of scientific Indian, Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair, has been designated as a backup crew member for the to Pillai, about 80% of the food in the ISS comes from a standard NASA-prepared menu, while the remaining 20% is tailored to each astronaut's personal preferences. In a press interaction last month, DK Singh, director of ISRO's Human Space Flight Centre, noted that Shukla 'will get ghar ka khana (home food)' and also have the option to choose from international cuisine, as approved by has prepared an assortment of rice dishes, moong dal halwa and mango nectar, among other treats, to ensure that the astronaut can take the taste of India with him. The NASA-approved menu at the ISS offers a wide variety of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes. There are beef fajitas, grilled chicken, Indian fish curry and chicken with corn and black beans. There are also Italian green beans, brown rice, carrot coins, cheese tortellini with tomato sauce and curry sauce with dessert, astronauts can indulge in chocolate pudding, tropical fruit salad and cranapple delicacy. As for beverages, a fruit cocktail is among the options. NC Bhat, a former ISRO scientist who trained with NASA in 1985 for a space shuttle mission, fondly remembers selecting suji halwa as his preferred dish for the journey. 'We were taught how to sip tea and pour hot water in a zero-gravity environment,' he recalls with a chuckle over the Bhat and his colleague P Radhakrishnan were both shortlisted and trained for the flight, their dreams were dashed when NASA suspended its shuttle programme after the Challenger disaster in 1986, which claimed the lives of all seven astronauts on board.'At the Johnson Space Center in Houston, we learned the art of galley management, a skill still considered critical for astronauts,' Bhat galley — a modular unit comprising a water dispenser and an oven to heat precooked, thermostabilised meals—ensures that food stays in place rather than drift away mid-bite. Mastering galley management remains a very important part of astronaut training, ensuring that meal doesn't become a floating mess in a zero-gravity environment.'There's a lot to learn from traditional food cultures when designing sustainable and enjoyable meals for longduration space travel, especially to combat menu fatigue — a phenomenon where astronauts lose interest in repetitive meals, ' says Priyanka D Rajkakati, an Indian-origin French aerospace engineer who participated in a mock Moon mission on a Hawaiian island. Her 15-day confinement in 2020 was part of research efforts geared toward the human exploration of the Moon and, eventually, Mars. She recalls how the six-member crew, including three women, focused on various investigations that contributed to a deeper understanding of human adaptation and operational strategies for future space expeditions.'We quickly realised how crucial the interplay between food and daily rhythms was in the confined environment of the mission,' she explains, noting that the quality of meals significantly affected everyone's mood, health, energy and overall recalls how the crew discovered about halfway through the mission that powdered onion wasn't the best choice.'It might even have been making us sick, so we gave it a red code: NONIONS,' she space food researchers are grappling with a dual challenge: crafting gourmetquality meals for short-term space tourists while simultaneously developing foods that can endure the five-year shelf life needed for deep-space missions to Gaganyaan project envisions sending a crew of three astronauts into a lowEarth orbit of 400 km for a three-day mission, before safely splashing down in Indian waters. Even short-term missions like these face significant challenges, such as limited water and the difficulties of preparing meals in a zero-gravity the ISS, astronauts often spend months at a time in orbit, but they have never had to go hungry, thanks to regular resupply missions that deliver both packaged and fresh foods. Fresh fruits and vegetables, for instance, are typically enjoyed in the first few days after arrival. But the challenge of developing a food system for a Mars mission is far more complex.A single journey from Earth to Mars is expected to take seven to 10 months, making the round trip one and half years in transit alone. Factoring in an estimated 18-month stay on the Red Planet — and additional months or years for unforeseen delays — astronauts could require food provisions for about five the ISS, resupply missions to Mars won't be easy. What's more, adding refrigerators would significantly increase the spacecraft's mass, volume and power to NASA's current plans, the first woman will set foot on the Moon this decade, paving the way for humans to venture to Mars in the following says he's constantly consumed by a single challenge: how to develop space food that's safe, nutritious and palatable — no matter how many years it needs to last.'I am focusing on electron beam technology – eBeam —because that's the key to sterilising future space foods,' he says, adding that several of his PhD students are now diving deep into this research.
NDTV
2 hours ago
- NDTV
"Go Shux": Veteran Astronaut Strikes Confident Note Ahead Of Axiom-4 Launch
Quick Read Summary is AI generated, newsroom reviewed. The Axiom-4 mission launches on June 10, featuring Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla as India's second astronaut in space after 40 years. Trained by veteran Michael Lopez-Alegria, Shukla will operate the Crew Dragon and conduct ISS experiments. New Delhi: The excitement is palpable as days are left for the Axiom-4 mission's scheduled launch on June 10, which will launch the second Indian into space after over four decades. Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, a decorated Indian Air Force pilot, is set to fly as the mission pilot aboard SpaceX's Falcon 9 Crew Dragon. His destination: the International Space Station (ISS). Cheering him on is none other than Michael Lopez-Alegria, Chief Astronaut of Axiom Space and a veteran of four spaceflights. "Shux, good luck to you and the rest of the crew. Enjoy it," said Lopez-Alegria, using Mr Shukla's call sign, in a message filled with warmth and confidence. Mr Shukla has spent nearly a year training under Mr Lopez-Alegria's guidance at Axiom Space, undergoing rigorous simulations, emergency drills, and mission rehearsals. The former NASA astronaut, who has logged over 257 days in space, has seen Mr Shukla up close and is unequivocal in his assessment. "He'll feel some pressure. He'll be under a lot of tension to keep up with the pace because it's pretty fast, but he's very well trained. He'll do great," he said. The Axiom-4 mission marks a significant milestone for India's human spaceflight ambitions. While Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma became the first Indian in space in 1984 aboard a Soviet Soyuz, Mr Shukla's mission is India's first participation in a commercial crewed flight to the ISS. It is funded by the Indian government-signalling a new era of state-backed international collaboration in space. NDTV asked Mr Lopez Alegria if Mr Shukla will make an outstanding astronaut? "I have no doubt that he'll do great," he replied without hesitation. As the mission pilot, Mr Shukla will be responsible for critical operations aboard the Crew Dragon spacecraft and will assist in scientific experiments aboard the ISS. His crewmates include astronauts from Hungry, Poland and the United States, making this a truly global mission. "Will there be a happy landing for him?" NDTV asked. "Happy splashdown," Lopez-Alegria smiled, referring to the ocean landing that awaits the crew at the end of their 14-day-long mission. The launch from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida will be watched closely not just by India's space community but by millions of Indians who see in Mr Shukla a symbol of national pride and aspiration. "Go Falcon 9. Go Crew Dragon. Go Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla," Lopez-Alegria cheered. As India's space program gathers momentum-with Gaganyaan, the Bhartiya Antariksha Station, and a Moon landing on the horizon-Mr Shukla's mission is more than just a flight. It's a statement: India is ready to take its place among the stars.
Time of India
5 hours ago
- Time of India
Indian astronaut Shukla Axiom-4 mission set for June 10 lift-off, dock at ISS after 28-hour flight
Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla and three others are set to embark on the Axiom Space 's fourth human spaceflight from NASA 's Kennedy Space Centre in Florida on June 10 and are likely to dock at the International Space Station on June 11 at about 10 PM IST, after a nearly 28-hour journey. Shukla, the mission pilot of the Axiom-4 (Ax4) commercial mission to the ISS, will be accompanied by mission commander Peggy Whitson and specialists Tibor Kapu from Hungary and Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski from Poland. The Axiom-4 mission will mark India's return to space 41 years after Rakesh Sharma's historic spaceflight onboard Russia's Soyuz mission in 1984. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like What Happens When You Massage Baking Soda Into Your Scalp Read More Undo "The crew will travel to the orbiting laboratory on a new SpaceX Dragon spacecraft after launching on the company's Falcon 9 rocket. The targeted docking time is approximately 12:30 (10:00 p.m. IST), Wednesday, June 11," NASA said in a statement. ISRO Chairman V Narayanan visited Axiom Space last week to review the preparations for the spaceflight. Live Events The astronauts have been in quarantine since May 25 to prepare for the trip and have been training ahead of the launch on June 10. Discover the stories of your interest Blockchain 5 Stories Cyber-safety 7 Stories Fintech 9 Stories E-comm 9 Stories ML 8 Stories Edtech 6 Stories "The #Ax4 crew undergoes extensive emergency training, featuring a range of scenarios such as underwater escape drills," Axiom Space said in a post on X, and shared a video of the training programme. During the 14-day stay at the ISS, the Ax-4 crew is expected to interact with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, school students, and space industry leaders among others. Earlier this week, the crew addressed a press conference to give an update on the training ahead of the launch. "We are good for the launch, we have completed all the training and the team has bonded well," Whitson said on Tuesday. Shukla described the year-long training for the spaceflight as "nothing short of transformative". "It has been an amazing journey so far, but the best is yet to come. As I go into space, I carry not just instruments and equipment, I carry hopes and dreams of a billion hearts," Shukla said. Shukla is set to conduct exclusive food and nutrition-related experiments developed under a collaboration between the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), with support from NASA. The experiments aim to pioneer space nutrition and self-sustaining life support systems vital for future long-duration space travel. ISRO has lined up a set of seven experiments for Shukla, who will also participate in five joint studies planned by NASA for its human research program. It has drawn up plans to focus on India-centric food for carrying out experiments on the ISS, including sprouting methi (Fenugreek) and moong (green gram) in microgravity conditions. Shukla will also expose the seeds to the macrobiotic conditions and bring them back to earth where they will be cultivated into plants not just once but over generations. Shukla's experience on the Axiom Mission 4 would be very well utilised on the Gaganyaan mission which is planned for 2027. ISRO is spending Rs 550 crore on the Axiom-4 mission. PTI
