Axiom-4 Mission: Indian Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla Breaks Ground with Scientific Endeavors on ISS

The Axiom Mission-4 (Ax-4) crew, including Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, marked their third day of operation on the International Space Station (ISS) with a focus on scientific advancement and global engagement. The crew members, led by commander Peggy Whitson, also included Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski and Tibor Kapu. Peggy Whitson’s research on ‘Cancer in Low Earth Orbit’ continued, with imaging samples collected to understand how cancer behaves in microgravity. This research is conducted in partnership with the Sanford Stem Cell Institute. Whitson also contributed to the Saudi Space Agency’s ‘Microgravity Challenge’, which hosted experiments from over 80,000 students. Shubhanshu Shukla’s experiments focused on the Space Microalgae project, where he worked with algae species that could provide a sustainable food source for prolonged space missions. The entire team contributed to the ‘Neuro Motion VR’ study, utilizing virtual reality to assess the mental and physical impacts of microgravity. The team also contributed to the ‘Telemetric Health AI’ project, studying the effects on the cardiovascular system and balance. Svab Uznansky-Wisniewski investigated fluid behavior in microgravity using the KERMIT imaging tool, part of the ‘Microfluidic Design’ experiment focused on developing automated drug testing equipment for space. Tibor Kapu engaged in a virtual discussion with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, as part of the global outreach component. The mission’s activities were initiated by the docking of the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft.