By Manal El Warraky
India is on the brink of a historic milestone in its space journey as it prepares to launch the Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission to the International Space Station (ISS), marking the country’s return to human spaceflight after more than four decades. Indian Air Force Wing Commander Shubanshu Shukla has been selected to lead this landmark mission, reviving memories of Rakesh Sharma’s 1984 spaceflight while signaling a bold new era in India’s extraterrestrial ambitions.
Shukla, one of four pilots chosen under India’s Gaganyaan human spaceflight program, will join an international crew under the command of veteran U.S. astronaut Peggy Whitson. The mission, managed by U.S.-based Axiom Space and scheduled for launch on June 11 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, exemplifies India’s growing role in global space collaboration.
Advanced Scientific Research in Orbit
The Ax-4 mission not only marks a symbolic return to space for India, Poland, and Hungary—each after more than 40 years—but also features a suite of groundbreaking scientific experiments, particularly in the areas of space biology, nutrition, and life support systems.
Key experiments Shukla will undertake include:
• Microalgae Research: Studying the impact of microgravity and space radiation on the growth and nutritional profile of edible microalgae, vital for sustainable space nutrition and oxygen production.
• Cyanobacteria Studies: Investigating the growth and metabolism of Spirulina and Synechococcus in microgravity, including using nitrogen from human waste to develop regenerative life support systems.
• Tardigrade Research: Exploring the survival, reproduction, and gene expression of tardigrades sent to space, aiming to uncover molecular mechanisms of resilience under extreme conditions.
• Additional Studies: Experiments on seed germination, muscle development, cognitive responses to screen exposure in microgravity, and other STEM-related projects.
A Strategic Step Toward India’s Human Spaceflight Goals
The Ax-4 mission carries strategic significance, offering India hands-on experience in operating in microgravity, emergency preparedness, and mission readiness—crucial elements for India’s upcoming independent spaceflight mission, Gaganyaan. The Gaganyaan program, with an estimated budget of ₹20,193 crore, aims to send Indian astronauts into low-Earth orbit, laying the groundwork for more ambitious goals including the Bharatiya Antariksh Station by 2035 and a crewed lunar mission by 2040.
A Rising Space Power
Over the past decade, India has emerged as a global player in space technology and exploration:
• Between January 2015 and December 2024, ISRO launched 393 foreign satellites for 34 countries.
• In 2017, India set a world record by launching 104 satellites in a single mission.
• Chandrayaan-3 made India the first country to reach the Moon’s south pole.
• The Aditya-L1 solar mission captured groundbreaking ultraviolet images of powerful solar flares.
• The SpaDeX mission in December 2024 demonstrated India’s indigenous space docking capabilities.
• India is developing an Orbital Return Vehicle (ORV) to autonomously re-enter and land on Earth.
Looking Ahead
The Ax-4 mission reflects more than a personal milestone for Wing Commander Shubanshu Shukla—it marks a national achievement that showcases India’s technological prowess and its expanding role in global space affairs. Through cutting-edge research, international partnerships, and ambitious goals like Gaganyaan and Bharatiya Antariksh, India is laying the foundation for a sustainable human presence in space.
Driven by policy reforms, private sector engagement, and technological innovation, India’s space sector is set to become not only a catalyst for scientific advancement but also a driver of economic and strategic growth. As India prepares for its first independent human spaceflight and eyes missions to the Moon and beyond, it is sending a clear message: the future of space belongs to those who dare to dream—and work relentlessly to realize it.
