Chennai, June 8 (UNI) The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will conduct seven microgravity research experiments during the upcoming Axiom-4 AX-4 Axiom International Space Station (ISS) mission to be piloted by Indian astronaut Group Captain Subhanshu Shukla.
The mission is scheduled for June 10 t 0612 hrs IST from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
ISRO said the field of microgravity research with potential applications in diverse areas such as human health, physical/ life sciences, material research, novel pharmaceutical development and biotechnology offers significant opportunities to the national scientific community.
ISRO has shortlisted seven microgravity research experiments proposed by Indian Principal Investigators (PIs) from various national R&D laboratories/ academic institutions for implementation on International Space Station (ISS) during the upcoming Axiom-4 mission with ISRO's Gaganyatri.
The seven experiments are Impact of Microgravity Radiation in ISS on Edible Microalgae; Sprouting Salad Seeds in Space: Relevance to Crew Nutrition; Survival, revival, reproduction and transcriptome of the eutardigrade Paramacrobiotus sp. BLR strain in space; Effect of metabolic supplements on muscle regeneration under microgravity; Analyzing Human Interaction with Electronic Displays in Microgravity; Comparative growth and proteomics responses of cyanobacteria on urea and nitrate
in microgravity and Impact of Microgravity on Growth and Yield Parameters in Food Crop Seeds.
The institutes involved in the research experiments are the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) and National Institute of Plant Genome Research
(NIPGR) ; Department of Biotechnology (DBT); University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad;
Indian Institute of Sciences (IISc); Institute of Stem Cell Science and Regenerative Medicine (InStem), DBT; International Centre for Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology (ICGEB); DBT
and the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST), Department of Space and
College of Agriculture, Vellayani, Kerala Agricultural University.
These experiments will utilise available research facilities onboard ISS.
Considering the safety driven operational philosophy as well as other mission constraints of human spaceflight missions, these shortlisted microgravity experiments are undergoing stringent evaluations and reviews on ground before launch.
The experience gained through this effort in implementation of these experiments will nurture a microgravity research ecosystem in the country resulting in induction of advanced microgravity experiments in various disciplines in Indian Space Programme.
ISRO since its inception is involved in science, engineering and technology to harvest the benefits
of outer space for India and the humankind.
Through 4000 sounding rockets and 236 missions achieved till date, ISRO has endeavored to build as well as enhance national capabilities in critical areas such as remote sensing, communication, navigation, disaster management and space sciences.
With the approval of Gaganyaan Programme, ISRO envisages to undertake human spaceflight missions to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and to lay the foundation of technologies needed for an Indian human space exploration programme in the long run.
The vision for space in the Amrit kaal envisages including other things, creation of an operational Bharatiya Antariksh Station by 2035 and Indian Crewed Lunar Mission by 2040.
Human space flight missions provides a strong opportunity to pursue international collaborations.
The first Indian to travel to space, Wing Commander (Retd.) Rakesh Sharma undertook his iconic mission in 1984 through such a collaborative effort. The official state visit of Prime Minster Narendra Modi to USA in June,2023 has led to another defining chapter in Indian space programme, in terms
of a collaborative international human space mission.
This mission with ISRO's Gaganyatri marks the visit of first Indian ever to the International Space Station (ISS) and during this mission, ISRO's Gaganyatri will carry out seven shortlisted Indian microgravity research experiments onboard ISS.
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