Shubhanshu Shukla’s 18 days in space: 7 Indian scientific experiments conducted during the Axiom-4 mission

Shubhanshu Shukla’s 18 Days in Space: 7 Indian Scientific Experiments Conducted During the Axiom-4 Mission (Image: ISRO Spaceflight)

As Dragon splashed down off California’s coast, India’s space story quietly turned a new page. Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla returned to Earth after an 18-day journey aboard the International Space Station (ISS), marking not just his historic visit but also a boost for India’s space research.

His mission wasn’t just about flying to space. Shukla, alongside Commander Peggy Whitson, Polish astronaut Slawosz Uznanski, and Hungarian crewmate Tibor Kapu, carried science from across the globe—and seven experiments from India. These focused on understanding how space affects living organisms and materials.

Seven Indian Experiments Aboard the ISS
From seed sprouting to stress on muscle tissue, the studies looked into how space affects biology. Institutes such as IISc Bengaluru, ICGEB, and IIST contributed to experiments ranging from tardigrade survival to crop growth in zero gravity. Other studies explored electronic interaction and nutrient effects on cells.

The experiments were part of a broader plan to gather knowledge for India’s future in human spaceflight, including Gaganyaan and future space station goals. Prof. Aloke Kumar from IISc, who guided Shukla as his MTech advisor, stressed the need for humility. “Space is completely unforgiving,” he said.