AX-4 Mission: Seven Microgravity Experiments by Shubhanshu Shukla
Why in the news
India prepared to send its first astronaut to the International Space Station on Axiom-4, with ISRO choosing seven experiments proposed by Indian national labs and academic institutions.
Key facts
- Astronaut: Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla.
- Mission: Axiom-4 (AX-4); scheduled launch June 19, 2025; 14 days on the ISS.
- Partners: Axiom Space, NASA and ISRO.
| Experiment | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Edible microalgae under radiation | Viability as space food and bioresource |
| Sprouting of salad seeds | Seed germination for space farming |
| Tardigrade survival and transcriptomics | Spaceflight effects on extremophiles |
| Metabolic supplements | Countering muscle loss |
| Interaction with electronic displays | Better interface design for crews |
| Cyanobacteria proteomics, urea vs nitrate | Adaptability to other nitrogen sources |
| Food crop seeds’ growth and yield | Food security on long missions |
Exam angle
- Mission name: Axiom-4. Number of experiments: seven.
- Organism studied for extremophile survival: tardigrade.