Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla to study tardigrades, space farming, and other key experiments during Axiom-4 mission in May

TOI Science Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Apr 22, 2025, 12:01 IST

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Indian cosmonaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is preparing for a 14-day mission to the ISS aboard Axiom Mission-4. He will conduct experiments in space agriculture, microbe survival, and human adaptation, in collaboration with ISRO, NASA, and ESA. The research aims to explore sustainable living beyond Earth and advance space travel biotechnology.

Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla to study tardigrades, space farming, and other key experiments during Axiom-4 mission in May

In a historic milestone in global space research, Indian cosmonaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is about to take on a historic mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS). In the Axiom Mission-4 (Ax-4) crew, Shukla will accompany a multi-national team of astronauts to conduct a suite of sophisticated science experiments as he remains in orbit for 14 days. The mission, a joint endeavour by ISRO, NASA, and ESA, will seek to explore important questions regarding life science, human adaptation, and sustainable living outside the Earth. From researching robust microbes to assessing crop growth in microgravity, these tests may determine the future of space travel and biotechnology.

Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla to embark on a 14-day mission to the ISS

Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla will fly on a 14-day mission to the International Space Station (ISS) aboard Axiom Mission-4 (Ax-4) later this month in May. Being in space, Shukla will monitor at least seven scientific experiments, ranging from space agriculture to the survival of microscopic life.
This mission is being conducted jointly by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), NASA, and the European Space Agency (ESA), with the addition of astronauts from the United States, Hungary, and Poland.

Shubhanshu Shukla set to conduct scientific experiments to study

Indian spaceflight participant Shubhanshu Shukla will soon embark for a 14-day trip to the International Space Station (ISS) aboard the Axiom-4 mission in May. Throughout his time in space, Shukla will perform a range of pioneering experiments, such as research on tardigrades, crop cultivation, and other scientific aspects, with the help of NASA and ESA. Explore the studies Shubhanshu Shukla set to lead experiments on:

To study surviving skills of water bears

One of the headline experiments involves the microscopic organisms known as tardigrades, or "water bears." These tiny creatures are famous for their unparalleled survival abilities — enduring extreme temperatures, radiation, and even the vacuum of space. Having thrived on Earth for nearly 600 million years, tardigrades are often seen as potential survivors of catastrophic global changes.
In collaboration with NASA and Voyager, ISRO's experiment will explore how tardigrades respond in the special conditions on board the ISS. The study will look specifically at:

Revival and survival rates in microgravity,
Reproductive habits in space compared to Earth,
And gene expression patterns in relation to ground control populations.
Knowledge of how tardigrades adapt at the molecular level may provide useful insights for long-term space travel and even lead to innovative biotech applications on Earth.

To study microgravity effects of space

Another important Ax-4 experiment will study how astronauts use electronic displays and computer systems in the microgravity of space.
This study will investigate how microgravity affects:

Eye-hand coordination tasks like pointing,
Gaze fixation and fast eye movements,
And cognitive and physical stress related to digital interactions.

The results have the potential to greatly enhance the design of spacecraft interfaces in the future, making them more intuitive and effective for astronauts on deep-space missions.

To study metabolism and growth of microalgae in microgravity

In partnership with NASA and Redwire, ISRO is also studying the metabolism and growth of edible microalgae in microgravity. These microorganisms are high-protein, high-lipid, and bioactive-rich feedstock suitable for growing food sustainably during long-duration space missions.
The experiment will investigate:

How space conditions affect growth rates,
Genetic activity changes,
And whether microalgae can be scaled as a potential space-based food source in the future.

To study the water bacteria (cyanobacteria)

One more intriguing experiment is with cyanobacteria — water bacteria renowned for their ability to photosynthesize. ISRO, in association with ESA, will investigate two types of cyanobacteria to learn more about:

Their microgravity growth patterns,
Cellular reactions to the conditions in space,
And how they can be used in life support systems in future space missions.

If the research is successful, it could open the door for clean oxygen production and recycling of nutrients on spacecraft.

To study muscle regeneration under microgravity

Long duration in microgravity tends to cause muscle atrophy, and this is a serious concern for astronauts on extended missions. For this, ISRO, in collaboration with NASA and BioServe Space Technologies, will be undertaking the "Effect of Metabolic Supplement on Muscle Regeneration Under Microgravity" study.
The experiment seeks to:

Reveal the molecular pathways that result in muscle dysfunction during space travel,
Evaluate the effectiveness of certain metabolic supplements,
And possibly use these results to fight muscle diseases on Earth.

To study space farming

In another move toward space farming, ISRO and NASA will research how crop seeds sprout and develop in the microgravity condition on the ISS. Dubbed the "Sprouting Salad Seeds in Space" project, the research will determine:

Genetic adaptation across several generations,
Microbial interactions in space,
And the nutritional content of the plants that are cultivated in microgravity.

This study may be crucial to providing dependable sources of food for future human missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.
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