New Delhi:
The Indian Space Research Organization today said that next month, in its fortnight-lamb mission for the International Space Station, Group captain Shubhanshu Shukla, ‘Gaganatri’ of India, will conduct seven India-specific experiments in space. These include studying ‘water beer’ – microscopic organization – to understand how living things are adapted to microgravity.
According to ISRO, the experience will take back a microgravity research ecosystem home, creating advanced experiments that create India’s space program.
India currently, there is no deep research experience in microgravity. In fact, this will be the first time an Indian will work in a highly advanced space laboratory, with several complex experiments in the last 25 years.
Minister of Science and Technology Dr. Jitendra Singh said that Mr. Shukla will focus on ‘Space Technology, Space Bio-Manufacturing and Bio-Astronautics’ during his mission.
Mr. Shukla, an officer of the Indian Air Force, will grow a water bear, also known as Tardigrad and who can reach the football field -shaped space station during his time, reaching just 0.5 mm in length. He will also develop special bacteria and study the effects of space on muscle cells, including trying to understand why there is a muscle loss in space in space.
Overall, he will conduct seven experiments in the fields of agriculture, food and human biology when he becomes the first Indian to travel to the international space station.
The fields of microgravity research have possible applications in various fields such as human health, physical and life science, material research, novel drug development and biotechnology, and provide important opportunities to the national scientific community.
ISRO has shortlisted the seven microgravity research experiments proposed by Indian Head investigators (PI) from various National R&D laboratories or educational institutions for implementation of ISS during the Axiom-4 mission.
Experiments are:
1. For Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) and the International Center for the National Institute of Plant Genome Research, the impact of microgravity radiation on the adible microalge.
2. Squad seed sprouts in space, which is relevant to the nutrition of the crew and will be monitored by the University of Krishi Vigyan at Dharwad in Karnataka.
3. Existing, revival, breeding, and transcriptal of utardigrad paramacrobiotus sp. BLR stress in space by Indian Institute of Science (IISC).
4. Effect of metabolic dosage on muscle regeneration under microgravity by the Stem Cell Science and Rejuvenile Medical Institute.
5. Analysis of human contact with electronic display in microgravity by IISC.
6. Comparative development and protomics reactions of cyanobacteria on urea and nitrate in microgravity by ICGEB.
7. Impact of development in seeds and yield parameters by Indian Institute of Space Sciences and Technology and Kerala Agricultural University.
Earlier Axiom Space Inc. Said AX-4 research would include 60 scientific studies and activities from 31 countries, including Poland, Hungary, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Nigeria and Europe.
This will be the most research-oriented, science-related activity, which is held during an Axiom space mission on ISS, which underlines the global importance and collaborative nature of the mission to carry forward microgravity research in the low Earth’s orbit, the company said.
Shri Shukla Pengi Whitson, former NASA astronaut and Mission Commander, will be with Slavose Uznanski-Viznivski from Poland from Poland and Hungary from Tibor Kapu.
