Latest news with #AxiomMission-4
News18
02-08-2025
- Science
- News18
Shubhanshu Shukla To Return After Two-Week Debrief at Axiom, Microgravity Experiments Await Analysis
Shukla told the media that all the microgravity experiments of ISRO conducted on the ISS have been completed and shipped to India for analysis, though he did not share the results With post-mission rehabilitation and recovery complete, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla —the second Indian to travel to space—is set to return to India after a two-week debriefing at Axiom Space. Shukla was the main pilot for Axiom Mission-4, which concluded on July 15 with a successful splashdown in the Pacific Ocean on the US West Coast. Shukla travelled to the International Space Station with three other crewmates—one each from the US, Hungary, and Poland—on a private space mission funded by the respective countries. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) spent nearly Rs 550 crore on this collaboration with Axiom Space, SpaceX, and NASA. In his first press briefing after his successful return from space, Shukla mentioned that his body is adjusting well. 'It takes time to get used to gravity, find your balance, and do simple things that you were doing all your life without even giving a second thought. However, with a well-curated rehabilitation programme, I felt normal within 3-4 days. My rehabilitation has been going great—I feel I'm ready for another space mission," Shukla said virtually from Texas. 'It is difficult to give details now, but I'm excited to share that there were certain experiments where I could see the results while we were on the ISS. This was very encouraging for me. All the experiments have been shipped to researchers back home. In due course of time, we will come out with the findings and results," he added. The experiments explored muscle regeneration in space using supplements, algal growth for potential food, crop viability, microbial survivability, cognitive performance in space, and the behaviour of cyanobacteria—all aimed at understanding human spaceflight and microgravity science. Discussing the upcoming Gaganyaan mission, for which he is one of the four astronaut-designates, he said that the entire experience of going to space, conducting experiments in orbit, and the year-long training programme will be very valuable for the mission. India's first human spaceflight, Gaganyaan, is expected to launch in 2027, following multiple uncrewed test flights lined up in the coming year. The Rs 20,000 crore mission aims to send three astronauts into low Earth orbit and bring them safely back to Earth. view comments 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.
Time of India
01-08-2025
- Science
- Time of India
Axiom Mission-4 a success for India and Gaganyaan, says astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla
Academy Empower your mind, elevate your skills India's first astronaut aboard the International Space Station (ISS), Shubhanshu Shukla , on Friday said the success of Axiom Mission-4 (Ax-4) marks India's return to orbit after 41 years, calling it 'India's second orbit.' 'And this time, we are ready not just to fly, but to lead,' he said during a post-mission press briefing, adding that his journey was not just as a spacefarer, but as a messenger of what's now possible for 39-year-old Indian Air Force Group Captain said he feels fit and ready for another space mission. Shukla added that he is confident the knowledge gathered aboard the ISS will prove invaluable to India's upcoming Gaganyaan human spaceflight his time aboard the ISS, Shukla noted that the sight of the Indian flag floating behind him symbolised the country's re-entry into global space conversations 'not as a spectator, but as an equal participant.'Responding to a question from ET, Shukla, who served as the mission's pilot, said the experiments designed by ISRO and Indian researchers were focussed on enabling India's human spaceflight ambitions. 'All these experiments we did on the station also have real-time benefits here on earth, whether it's for understanding degenerative diseases or ensuring food security,' he added that some experiments, such as stem cell research conducted in microgravity, could help decode why muscle atrophy happens and how it might be prevented or delayed, both in space and on earth. India's contribution to the mission included seven microgravity experiments across disciplines such as space medicine, agriculture, and biology, part of the larger set of 60 scientific investigations on four-member Ax-4 crew, comprising astronauts from India, Poland's Sławosz Uznański, Hungary's Tibor Kapu, and NASA veteran Peggy Whitson, will now enter a two-week debriefing phase, during which mission learnings will be reviewed and shared with respective space on the outreach efforts and the true success of the mission, Shukla said the most common question he heard from children was, 'How does one become an astronaut? 'If children across Bharat are already asking these questions, we are halfway there. The rest is just enabling them.'Ax-4 was launched on June 25 and concluded with the return of the crew on July 15.
Yahoo
19-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Space station astronauts bid farewell to private Ax-4 crew
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. The visiting Axiom Mission-4 (Ax-4) crew returned to Earth this week from the International Space Station, leaving the seven Expedition 73 astronauts and cosmonauts to continue research and maintenance activities aboard the orbiting lab. Orbital observation The "most magical place on Earth" as seen from a "star" above. Expedition 73 flight engineer Anne McClain, a NASA astronaut, captured this photo of Orlando, Florida — home to the Walt Disney World and Universal Studios theme parks — during a nighttime flyover by the International Space Station. "Orlando has a surprising amount of orange sodium vapor lighting dotted around it," wrote NASA astronaut Don Pettit, responding to McClain's photo. Science status Among the research that was conducted by the Expedition 73 crew aboard the space station this week was: CIPHER — NASA astronauts Jonny Kim, Nichole Ayers and Anne McClain took part in studies that were part of the "Complement of Integrated Protocols for Human Exploration Research on Varying Mission Durations." Kim and McClain used an ultrasound machine to measure blood flow, while Ayers and McClain used virtual reality googles to test how microgravity affects the sense of balance. Muscle Stimulation — Ayers and Kim worked together on a study of whether sending electrical impulses into astronauts' legs can supplement exercise to combat muscular atrophy. Ayers wore the electrodes, while Kim operated the equipment. Real-time scans — McClain also donned electrodes for two ultrasound scans that were monitored by doctors on the ground. The data collected is supporting an ongoing study of the cardiovascular risks of long-duration spaceflight. Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Kirill Peskov also ran on a treadmill to determine how much physical activity is required to stay ready to perform spacewalks and be subjected to increased gravity loads on their return to Earth. Station keeping The Expedition 73 crew also devoted time to maintaining the space station's systems, including: Boost — A Russian resupply craft, Progress MS-30 (91P) docked to the aft port of the Zvezda service module, fired its engines for about 12 minutes on Wednesday (July 16) to give the space station an orbital boost, setting up for the arrival of the next crew early next month. Microgravity Measurement Apparatus — Expedition 73 commander Takuya Onishi with JAXA replaced a device that tracks how the Kibo laboratory vibrates in response to crew and spacecraft movements, motions that could impact research being conducted in the module. Catalytic reactor — Anne McClain replaced a component of the station's water processor assembly that adds oxygen and oxidizes organics in the collected wastewater. Astronaut activity Axiom Mission 4 After 18 days at the International Space Station, the Axiom Mission-4 crew on board SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft "Grace" undocked and returned to Earth this week. Commander Peggy Whitson, pilot Shubhanshu Shukla and mission specialists Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski and Tibor Kapu splashed down off the coast of California on Tuesday (July 15). The four crew members conducted more than 60 scientific experiments from 31 countries — more than any other commercial mission — studying life sciences, conducting materials research, observing Earth and demonstrating new technologies. Whitson, Shukla, Uznański-Wiśniewski adn Kapu also took part in 20 outreach events, speaking with scientists, students and government officials. By the numbers As of Friday (July 18), there are 7 people aboard the International Space Station: Expedition 73 commander Takuya Onishi of JAXA, Anne McClain, Nichole Ayers and Jonny Kim of NASA and Kirill Peskov, Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritsky of Roscosmos, all flight engineers. Ax-4 commander Peggy Whitson, pilot Shubhanshu Shukla of ISRO and mission specialists Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski of ESA and Tibor Kapu of HUNOR returned to Earth on SpaceX's Dragon "Grace" on Tuesday (July 15). There are two docked crew spacecraft: SpaceX's Dragon "Endurance" attached to the forward port of the Harmony module and Roscosmos' Soyuz MS-27 attached to the Earth-facing port of the Prichal node. There are two docked cargo spacecraft: Roscosmos' Progress MS-30 (91P) attached to the aft port of the Zvezda service module, and Progress MS-31 (92P) docked to the space-facing port of the Poisk module. As of Friday, the space station has been continuously crewed for 24 years, 8 months and 17 days. Solve the daily Crossword
News18
17-07-2025
- Health
- News18
Back On Earth, Shubhanshu Shukla Begins Week-Long Recovery In Houston, To Return To India Soon
Last Updated: ISRO confirmed that Shukla is doing well post his 18-day stay at the ISS, and no immediate health concerns were reported in the initial examination Indian Air Force pilot Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla has begun his week-long rehabilitation programme in Houston after his successful 18-day stay at the International Space Station (ISS), the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said on Thursday. The latest report indicates the Gaganyaan astronaut-designate may be back in India sooner than initially anticipated. Shukla was among the four crew members who flew aboard SpaceX Dragon on June 25, leading Axiom Space's fourth private spaceflight in collaboration with ISRO, NASA, as well as European Space Agency (ESA). Soon after the splashdown into the Pacific Ocean, off the coast of San Diego in Southern California on Tuesday afternoon, the crew was extracted by SpaceX's recovery teams and underwent preliminary health checks at the recovery ship. ISRO confirmed that the initial health assessments indicated that Shukla was in stable condition and reported no immediate health concerns. Met family in Houston The IAF pilot was then airlifted by helicopter from the recovery ship to the mainland for further medical evaluations and debriefing sessions. He was flown to Houston, where he also met his family members, including his wife and child. He also met fellow Gaganyaan astronaut-designate Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair, who trained alongside Shukla for the Axiom Mission-4 and remained on standby, and other ISRO team members. The space agency confirmed that Shukla has begun a week-long rehabilitation programme under the supervision of Axiom Space's flight surgeon and ISRO's flight surgeon to mitigate any adverse effects of microgravity. This includes a series of medical checks, especially cardiovascular assessments, musculoskeletal tests, and psychological debriefs. Astronauts typically experience some dizziness and muscle loss after staying in microgravity, but the impacts tend to minimise with time. 'The rehabilitation will focus on monitoring physical and mental health, and addressing any effects of microgravity, and preparing him for a return to normal life," said ISRO in a statement on Thursday. Meanwhile, his crew member, mission specialist Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski from Poland, has already flown to Germany, where he was welcomed by officials from the European Space Agency (ESA). All experiments successfully completed: ISRO Launched on June 25, the mission marked the first time an Indian entered the International Space Station and performed experiments in microgravity. Shukla also brought along with him the results of the seven experiments, which were developed by Indian research institutions under the Human Space Flight Centre's coordination. The experiments explored muscle regeneration, algal growth, crop viability, microbial survivability, cognitive performance in space, and the behaviour of cyanobacteria—all aimed at understanding human spaceflight and microgravity science. 'All experiments were completed successfully, and samples have been returned for detailed post-flight analysis," confirmed ISRO. view comments 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.
United News of India
15-07-2025
- Science
- United News of India
Ax-4 crew returns Home, expedition carried73 Studies Space Effects on Heart, Nervous System
Chennai, July 15 (UNI) NASA tonight announced that the Axiom Mission-4 crew successfully completed their ISS Expedition conductng 73 studies on space effects on heart and nervous system. Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) splashed down in the Pacific Ocean at 2:31 a.m. PDT Tuesday ending a 20-day spaceflight that saw the private astronauts perform critical microgravity research aboard the International Space Station. Veteran astronaut Peggy Whitson, who has accumulated 695 days in space over five missions, led Pilot Shubhanshu Shukla and Mission Specialists Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski and Tibor Kapu back to Earth aboard the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft. Back on the orbital outpost, the Expedition 73 crew kicked off several days of human research activities starting with exploring how the human heart and nervous system adapt to weightlessness. NASA Flight Engineers Jonny Kim and Anne McClain joined each other in the Columbus laboratory module on Tuesday for heart scans using the Ultrasound 2 device to understand how living in space affects blood flow. McClain then partnered with NASA Flight Engineer Nichole Ayers and studied how an astronaut's nervous system, or sense of balance, adjusts to microgravity. McClain wore virtual reality goggles and responded to visual stimuli as Ayers monitored and operated the hardware with assistance from doctors on the ground in real time. Both studies are part of the CIPHER suite of 14 human research experiments. Kim later assisted station Commander Takuya Onishi of JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) as he worked in the Tranquility module for upcoming electrical and life support maintenance. The duo removed a variety of exercise racks and orbital plumbing components to access electrical hardware for maintenance and begin installing a new catalytic reactor. Roscosmos cosmonauts Alexey Zubritskiy and Kirill Peskov continued unpacking cargo from inside the Progress 92 resupply ship that delivered about three tons of food, fuel, and supplies to the Expedition 73 crew on July 5. Veteran cosmonaut Sergey Ryzhikov spent his day checking electronics gear and servicing space physics research equipment. The docked Progress 91 cargo craft will fire its engines on Wednesday for several minutes boosting the station's orbit to the correct altitude for the arrival of the SpaceX Crew-11 mission. Crew-11 is targeted to launch no earlier than 12:09 p.m. EDT on July 31 aboard the Dragon spacecraft for a docking on Aug. 2 to the Harmony module's space-facing port. NASA astronaut Zena Cardman will lead Crew-11 with Pilot Mike Fincke of NASA and Mission Specialists Kimiya Yui of JAXA and Oleg Platonov of Roscosmos. 50 years ago today, two different spacecraft from the United States and the Soviet Union launched from opposites of the world to begin an era of international cooperation in space. Two days later, the Apollo spacecraft with NASA astronauts Tom Stafford, Vance Brand, and Deke Slayton docked with the Soyuz spacecraft carrying cosmonauts Alexei Leonov and Valery Kubasov. Stafford and Leonov opened the hatches between both spacecraft, shook hands, and conducted research before undocking two days later. The experience gained from the Apollo-Soyuz mission would inform operations on the International Space Station that will reach 25 years of continuous human habitation on Nov. 2 this year. UNI GV 2330
