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Time of India
16 hours ago
- Health
- Time of India
Shux, crew, study microalgae, cancer, cognition & more
The view was still extraordinary, but the work, even more so for the Axiom-4 (Ax-4) crew. With Earth turning silently below them, the crew, including India's Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla (Shux) spent their third day aboard the International Space Station (ISS) studying cancer, cognition, microalgae, the building blocks of long-term spaceflight, and more. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The experiments being carried out by Shux and other crew members are part of the more than 60 scientific investigations from 31 countries, including India, the US, Poland, Hungary, Brazil, Nigeria, and Saudi Arabia. After all, Ax-4 is the most research-intensive private mission to the ISS to date. Shux, who had kicked off his research activity with a muscle loss study the previous day, was hard at work on a project that's microscopic in size but potentially massive in impact. He deployed sample bags and imaging tools for a space microalgae experiment, studying how these tiny organisms fare in orbit. Rich in nutrients and capable of recycling carbon dioxide, microalgae could become a key part of long-duration space missions — a source of food, oxygen and life support rolled into one. He was also part of, along with other AX-4 crew, the 'Neuro Motion VR' study, which uses virtual reality headsets and brain-monitoring technology (fNIRS) to observe how astronauts' cognitive and motor functions respond to spaceflight. 'Alongside that, they collected data for 'Telemetric Health AI', a project that merges biometric tracking with AI analytics to better understand how spaceflight affects the cardiovascular and balance systems. These studies aren't just academic. They're building the foundations for safe, extended human missions into deep space,' Axiom Space said. Commander Peggy Whitson, a seasoned astronaut on her fourth spaceflight, devoted much of the day to the Cancer in LEO (low-Earth orbit) investigation. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Working with the Sanford Stem Cell Institute, she captured imaging samples of cancer cells exposed to microgravity. The stress of space may change the way these cells behave, potentially offering clues to tackling aggressive, metastatic cancers back on Earth. Her camera didn't stop there. Whitson also photographed student-designed science experiments and artwork for the Saudi Space Agency's Microgravity Challenge — a competition that drew over 80,000 entries from young innovators across the Arab world. With submissions ranging from sustainable farming ideas to space-inspired art, it's an example of how missions like Ax-4 can inspire the next generation of scientists, engineers and dreamers. Mission specialist Suave (Slawosz Uznanski) focused his attention on the microfluidic design experiment to observe how fluids behave in low gravity. The end goal? Developing microfluidic devices that test drug stability and quality — a vital step toward bringing autonomous health care to future space travellers. And yet, research isn't the only focus. The crew also reached out to Earth. Tibor Kapu shared a live conversation with Hungarian PM Viktor Orbán, while Whitson and Suave spoke with Axiom Space Chief Scientist Dr Lucie Low about protecting astronauts from space radiation — a challenge no future mission can ignore.
Time of India
21 hours ago
- Science
- Time of India
Shubhanshu Shukla to interact with school students, ISRO engineers on Friday
Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla is set to interact with school students and scientists at the Indian Space Research Organisation ( ISRO ) from his orbital post on the International Space Station via ham radio on Friday evening. The interaction is planned via a telebridge set up at the U R Rao Satellite Centre in Bengaluru, said the Amateur Radio on International Space Station (ARISS), which facilitates interaction of school students with astronauts on the orbital laboratory. Shukla is on a 14-day scientific expedition on the International Space Station (ISS) as part of the Axiom-4 mission , along with three other astronauts. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The Top 25 Most Beautiful Women In The World Car Novels Undo The ARISS programme inspires students worldwide to pursue interests and careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics through amateur radio-communication opportunities with the ISS on-orbit crew. "Contact upcoming with India! @Axiom_Space #Ax4 crew member Shubhanshu Shukla, VU2TNI, will talk to the UR Rao Satellite Centre (URSC) in Karnataka via ham radio from the Space Station. Scheduled Fri. July 4 at 10:17 UTC, 6:17 AM ET, 3:47 PM ISS via K6DUE telebridge," the ARISS said in a post on X. Live Events — ARISS_Intl (@ARISS_Intl) Ham radio, officially known as amateur radio, is a non-commercial radio-communication service operated by licensed enthusiasts and is considered a reliable mode of communication during disasters, when conventional modes of communication are not available. Meanwhile, Shukla was busy conducting the space microalgae experiment on Sunday. He deployed sample bags and captured images of the algae strains in his orbital post on the ISS. "These tiny organisms could play a big role in the future of space exploration , offering a sustainable, nutrient-rich food source for long-duration missions," Axiom Space said. The Axiom-4 crew also collected data for the Neuro Motion VR project , where astronauts don VR headsets and perform attention-based tasks, while their brain activity is monitored using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). "This research explores how microgravity affects cognitive and motor functions, which could provide valuable insight for future deep-space missions," Axiom Space said. Data was also gathered for the Telemetric Health AI study , which integrates biometric data with mission analytics to better understand how spaceflight impacts cardiovascular and balance systems. By applying advanced data-science techniques, the project could lead to smarter, real-time health monitoring -- both on orbit and on Earth.
India Today
a day ago
- Science
- India Today
India's Shubhanshu Shukla working on experiment to power Gaganyaan Mission
India's first astronaut on the International Space Station, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, is working on the space microalgae experiment sent by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).Shux deployed sample bags and captured images of the algae strains. These tiny organisms could play a big role in the future of space exploration, offering a sustainable, nutrient-rich food source for long-duration are potentially useful organisms for future spaceflight that could be used as foods, fuel, or even in life support systems. In this experiment, three strains of microalgae will be grown, and the impact of microgravity on the growth, metabolism, and genetic activity will be investigated versus algae grown on the ground. The results could provide Isro with new options to develop the critically needed life support system for the Gaganyaan Mission, the Indian human spaceflight Axiom crew, meanwhile, also collected data for the Neuro Motion VR project, where astronauts don VR headsets and perform attention-based tasks while their brain activity is monitored using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). This research explores how microgravity affects cognitive and motor functions, which could provide valuable insight for future deep space Commander Peggy Whitson is working on the Cancer in LEO investigation by capturing imaging samples that could unlock new insights into how cancer behaves under the unique stressors of microgravity. She also turned her lens toward creativity, photographing student hardware, science experiments, and artwork for the Saudi Space Agency's Microgravity of conducting the experiment, Shux spoke to Prime Minister Narendra Modi from the ISS and said that he was safe and doing fine aboard the Space Station, calling it a "whole new experience". He also said he was extremely glad to represent India in space. Shukla was launched on a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft from NASA's Kennedy Space Centre in Florida to the Space Station on Wednesday. The spacecraft completed a 28-hour journey before executing a flawless docking manoeuvre at the ISS's Harmony is joined by mission commander Peggy Whitson of the US, and mission specialists Sawosz Uznanski of Poland and Tibor Kapu of told PM Modi that he saw Earth as a complete planet with no borders visible and "it is our home".- EndsTune InMust Watch
