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NDTV
15-07-2025
- Science
- NDTV
A Timeline Of Key Moments As Shubhanshu Shukla Returns From Space
New Delhi: The Axiom-4 mission, which marked India's return to human spaceflight after four decades, finally returned to Earth. Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the first Indian to board the International Space Station (ISS), conducted a range of microgravity experiments during the 18-day mission. Here's a timeline of key moments from announcement to return: - The Axiom-4 mission featuring Indian astronaut Shukla was announced in late 2024 as a collaborative commercial spaceflight supported by ISRO and NASA. - Originally scheduled for launch in early 2025, the mission faced multiple postponements due to technical checks and unfavourable weather conditions at Kennedy Space Centre. - After several delays, the mission successfully launched aboard SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket on June 25, 2025 from Florida's Kennedy Space Centre. - The crew docked with the ISS on June 26, 2025, beginning their 18-day stay aboard the station. - During the mission, Mr Shukla conducted seven Indian-designed microgravity experiments, including sprouting of moong and methi seeds, stem cell research, and microalgae studies. - Aboard the ISS, he performed a zero-gravity water bubble demonstration and took part in cognitive load experiments involving screen interaction. - He interacted with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, students, and ISRO scientists through amateur radio and video links as part of outreach efforts. - A farewell ceremony was held on July 13 with Expedition 73 crew members, where Mr Shukla thanked ISRO and his colleagues. - The Dragon Grace spacecraft undocked from the ISS on July 14, 2025, after completing planned activities and experiments. - Mr Shukla and the crew safely splashed down off the California coast on July 15, 2025, concluding India's first extended research mission aboard the ISS.
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Business Standard
15-07-2025
- Science
- Business Standard
Shukla conducts 7 Indian experiments aboard ISS during Axiom-4 mission
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the first Indian on the ISS, led seven Indian-designed experiments during Axiom-4, advancing life sciences for future space travel Business Standard Chennai Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the first Indian to visit the International Space Station (ISS) and the second Indian to go to space after 41 years, not only laid the foundation for the country's ambitious Gaganyaan mission but also conducted a host of scientific experiments in space. Out of the total 60 experiments conducted by the Axiom-4 crew at the ISS, seven were designed by Indian researchers. The basic idea behind these experiments was to gauge space's interaction with life. The Axiom-4 mission was successfully launched from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on 25 June and docked with the ISS on 26 June. After two days of adjusting to the microgravity environment, Shukla began scientific experiments on 29 June. Here are the seven experiments he conducted during his stay at the ISS, based on data shared by Axiom-4 and media reports: One of the major experiments he conducted was the space microalgae experiment, which involved deploying sample bags and capturing images of algae strains. These tiny organisms could play a vital role in the future of space exploration, offering a sustainable, nutrient-rich food source for long-duration missions. This was developed by the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) and the National Institute of Plant Genome Research (NIPGR) of the Department of Biotechnology (DBT). Another experiment, developed by the University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad, and the Indian Institute of Technology, Dharwad, involved sprouting salad seeds in space. The Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, developed an experiment to assess the survival, revival, reproduction and transcriptome of the eutardigrade Paramacrobiotus. This Voyager Tardigrades experiment investigated how microscopic creatures survive and reproduce in space. The findings could provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms of cellular resilience, which could translate into clinically relevant knowledge on Earth. The Myogenesis experiment aimed to uncover the biological pathways behind skeletal muscle degradation in space — a major challenge for astronauts. By identifying these mechanisms, researchers hope to develop targeted therapies that could protect space travellers and aid people suffering from muscle-degenerative diseases on Earth. This was developed by the Institute for Stem Cell Science and Regenerative Medicine under the DBT. Another experiment was designed to understand the effect of metabolic supplements on muscle regeneration under microgravity. Tests developed by IISc were also conducted to analyse human interaction with electronic displays in microgravity. Separately, ICGEB conducted an experiment to understand the comparative growth and proteomics responses of cyanobacteria on urea and nitrate in microgravity. An additional experiment focused on the growth and yield of food crop seeds, developed by the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST), Department of Space, and the College of Agriculture, Vellayani, Kerala Agricultural University.
India Gazette
23-06-2025
- Science
- India Gazette
DRDO develops 5.56x45 mm CQB carbine in partnership with private sector firm
New Delhi [India], June 23 (ANI): In a significant development, a Carbine developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has emerged as the lowest bidder in the Indian Army tender for buying over 4 lakh close-quarter battle carbines for operations. DRDO Develops 5.56x45 mm CQB Carbine 'Significantly boosting #atmanirbharta in critical technology, 5.56x45 mm CQB Carbine, designed and developed by Armament Research and Development Establishment(ARDE), DRDO selected as L1 in Indian Army Request for Proposal (RFP)', DRDO shared on 'X'. The Indian Army has been looking to acquire these carbines for a long time, but has not been able to make any progress due to the withdrawal of tenders. If the Indian Army finally signs the tender for buying the carbines, this would be one of the biggest contracts ever for Indian-designed and developed small arms. Meanwhile on June 17, India entered into a new quantum era by successfully demonstrating an experimental advancement through DRDO-Industry-Academia Centre of Excellence (DIA-CoE), IIT Delhi, according to the official statement from the Ministry of Defence. Free-space quantum secure communication using quantum entanglement over a distance of more than one km was achieved via a free-space optical link established on the IIT Delhi campus. The experiment attained a secure key rate of nearly 240 bits per second with a quantum bit error rate of less than 7 per per the release, this entanglement-assisted quantum secure communication paves the way for real-time applications in quantum cybersecurity, including long-distance Quantum Key Distribution (QKD), the development of quantum networks, and the future quantum internet. These efforts align with India's broader objectives to advance quantum technologies for national development. Under the project 'Design and development of photonic technologies for free space QKD', sanctioned by Directorate of Futuristic Technology Management (DFTM), DRDO, the demonstration was given by Prof Bhaskar Kanseri's research group in the presence of several dignitaries, including the DRDO DG (MED, COS & CS), Director SAG, Director DFTM, Dean (R&D) IIT Delhi, Director (DIA-CoE) and DRDO laboratory scientists. (ANI)
