Fri Apr 04 02:07:33 UTC 2025: ## Indian Air Force Officer to Conduct Unprecedented Space Experiments

**Cape Canaveral, FL –** Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla of the Indian Air Force will make history this May as the first Indian to conduct scientific experiments aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Piloting Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4), a joint NASA-ISRO venture launching from the Kennedy Space Center, Shukla will oversee seven experiments focusing on agriculture, food production, and human biology in microgravity.

Shukla’s mission, lasting approximately two weeks, will involve a total of 60 scientific studies in collaboration with 31 countries. These experiments, described as the most research-intensive ever undertaken on an Axiom Space mission, will include investigating the effects of microgravity on muscle cells, growing edible algae and specific bacteria, studying crop seed varieties, and examining the impact of computer screens in space. Indian institutions in New Delhi, Bengaluru, and Thiruvananthapuram are participating in the research.

While Shukla won’t conduct a dedicated yoga experiment, he plans to practice some yoga poses in the ISS environment. This mission represents a significant step for India’s space program, serving as preparation for the Gaganyaan and Bharatiya Antariksha Station missions. ISRO Chairman Dr. V Narayanan expressed confidence in Shukla’s capabilities.

The Ax-4 mission also marks the first time astronauts from Poland and Hungary will visit the ISS, carrying out their own ambitious research projects. Other experiments include assessing astronaut readiness using wearable technology and exploring the effects of spaceflight on 3D-printed materials.

Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair has been designated as Shukla’s backup for the mission. The Axiom Space mission, involving a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, will consist of four astronauts: Shukla, former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson (mission commander), Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski (Poland), and Tibor Kapu (Hungary). The mission’s extensive research program underscores the growing international collaboration in space exploration and scientific advancement.

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