BENGALURU: India’s Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla will perform seven experiments developed by scientists in Bengaluru, Dharwad, Thiruvananthapuram and New Delhi at the International Space Station (ISS), where he is expected to reach in the next few weeks as part of the Axiom-4 mission (Ax4).
Weeks after initial details of the scientific experiments Shukla will perform at ISS were made public by Axiom Space, the US-based firm implementing Ax-4, Isro Monday gave details of the institutions involved in developing these experiments. TOI had reported that Shukla will be performing seven experiments on April 3, while few other details had been reported earlier than that.
The selected experiments represent diverse scientific fields and come from leading Indian research institutions. These experiments have been carefully chosen to advance knowledge in areas such as human health, agriculture, biotechnology, and physical sciences under microgravity conditions.
The University of Agricultural Sciences in Dharwad will investigate the sprouting of salad seeds in space, with particular relevance to crew nutrition. This research could provide valuable insights for sustaining astronauts during extended missions.
The Indian Institute of Sciences (IISc) will conduct two separate investigations—one studying the survival and reproduction of tardigrades in space , and another analysing human interaction with electronic displays in microgravity.
The International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), headquartered in Trieste, Italy with a centre in New Delhi, in collaboration with India’s National Institute of Plant Genome Research (NIPGR) in New Delhi, will examine the impact of microgravity and radiation on edible microalgae.
In a separate experiment, ICGEB will study the comparative growth and proteomics responses of cyanobacteria when using urea versus nitrate in microgravity.
Other selected research includes a study by Bengaluru’s Institute of Stem Cell Science and Regenerative Medicine (InStem), investigating the effect of metabolic supplements on muscle regeneration under microgravity conditions.
Isro’s Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST), Thiruvananthapuram, together with the College of Agriculture at Kerala Agricultural University, will study the impact of microgravity on growth and yield parameters in food crop seeds.
“These experiments are currently undergoing stringent evaluations and reviews before launch, adhering to the safety-driven operational philosophy of human spaceflight missions,” Isro said.
It added that the scientific initiative stems from collaborative efforts established during PM Narendra Modi’s state visit to the US in June 2023. “...It follows in the footsteps of Wing Commander (Retd.) Rakesh Sharma, who became the first Indian to travel to space in 1984 through international collaboration,” Isro said.
It reiterated that the experience gained through implementing these experiments will help nurture a microgravity research ecosystem within India, potentially leading to more advanced space experiments across various disciplines in the future.
“This mission aligns with Isro’s ambitious long-term vision for space exploration, which includes the establishment of an operational Bharatiya Antariksh Station by 2035 and an Indian crewed lunar mission by 2040,” the space agency said.
Weeks after initial details of the scientific experiments Shukla will perform at ISS were made public by Axiom Space, the US-based firm implementing Ax-4, Isro Monday gave details of the institutions involved in developing these experiments. TOI had reported that Shukla will be performing seven experiments on April 3, while few other details had been reported earlier than that.
The selected experiments represent diverse scientific fields and come from leading Indian research institutions. These experiments have been carefully chosen to advance knowledge in areas such as human health, agriculture, biotechnology, and physical sciences under microgravity conditions.
The University of Agricultural Sciences in Dharwad will investigate the sprouting of salad seeds in space, with particular relevance to crew nutrition. This research could provide valuable insights for sustaining astronauts during extended missions.
The Indian Institute of Sciences (IISc) will conduct two separate investigations—one studying the survival and reproduction of tardigrades in space , and another analysing human interaction with electronic displays in microgravity.
The International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), headquartered in Trieste, Italy with a centre in New Delhi, in collaboration with India’s National Institute of Plant Genome Research (NIPGR) in New Delhi, will examine the impact of microgravity and radiation on edible microalgae.
In a separate experiment, ICGEB will study the comparative growth and proteomics responses of cyanobacteria when using urea versus nitrate in microgravity.
Other selected research includes a study by Bengaluru’s Institute of Stem Cell Science and Regenerative Medicine (InStem), investigating the effect of metabolic supplements on muscle regeneration under microgravity conditions.
Isro’s Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST), Thiruvananthapuram, together with the College of Agriculture at Kerala Agricultural University, will study the impact of microgravity on growth and yield parameters in food crop seeds.
“These experiments are currently undergoing stringent evaluations and reviews before launch, adhering to the safety-driven operational philosophy of human spaceflight missions,” Isro said.
It added that the scientific initiative stems from collaborative efforts established during PM Narendra Modi’s state visit to the US in June 2023. “...It follows in the footsteps of Wing Commander (Retd.) Rakesh Sharma, who became the first Indian to travel to space in 1984 through international collaboration,” Isro said.
It reiterated that the experience gained through implementing these experiments will help nurture a microgravity research ecosystem within India, potentially leading to more advanced space experiments across various disciplines in the future.
“This mission aligns with Isro’s ambitious long-term vision for space exploration, which includes the establishment of an operational Bharatiya Antariksh Station by 2035 and an Indian crewed lunar mission by 2040,” the space agency said.
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