Indian Air Force (IAF) Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is set to become the first Indian astronaut to visit the International Space Station (ISS) this year.
During his two-week mission, he will conduct three major experiments related to muscle loss in space, sustainable food production, and bio-manufacturing, according to Minister of State (MoS) for Science and Technology Dr. Jitendra Singh.
Dr. Singh emphasised the harsh realities of space travel, stating that despite advancements in astronaut training, human physiology remains unchanged in microgravity.
Key experiments will be on edible algae, waste recycling, and muscle research.
Edible Microalgae Cultivation
The first experiment, led by the International Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), New Delhi, will involve growing nutrient-rich algae in space. These algae, cultivated in enclosed containers with water and carbon dioxide, could serve as a sustainable food source for astronauts on long-duration space missions. Researchers will analyse whether these algae can withstand space conditions while providing essential nutrients like proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, and vitamins (A, B1, B2, B6, B12, C, and E).
Waste-to-Wealth Conversion Using Algae
The second experiment, also led by ICGEB, will explore resource recycling in space. Scientists will use urea from astronaut urine to grow blue-green algae (Spirulina) and a desert species (Chroococcidiopsis). Since transporting resources into space is expensive, this experiment aims to create sustainable ways to generate essential materials from waste.
Muscle Loss Research and Countermeasures
The third experiment, conducted by the Institute for Stem Cell Science and Regenerative Medicine (INSTEM), Bengaluru, will focus on muscle degeneration in space. Studies show that astronauts experience up to 20% muscle loss during space missions lasting five to eleven days, a process that takes decades to occur on Earth (Sarcopenia). Researchers will test supplements in muscle cell cultures to enhance mitochondrial function, potentially leading to new treatments for muscle loss both in space and on Earth.
Captain Shukla will pilot Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4), a private astronaut mission aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft. NASA has scheduled the launch from Kennedy Space Center, Florida, possibly in May 2025. The mission is a collaboration between NASA and ISRO, focusing on scientific research, education, and commercial activities in microgravity.
Dr. Singh highlighted that these space experiments will significantly benefit India’s upcoming space programs, including Gaganyaan and Bhartiya Antariksh Station. He also noted that India’s bio-economy has surged from $10 billion in 2014 to $151 billion in 2023, with projections to reach $300 billion by 2030.
As space travel evolves into a commercial industry, new technologies such as artificial organ development and organoid research in microgravity could revolutionise biomedical applications. DBT and ISRO will work together to explore space bio-manufacturing, which has immense commercial potential.
Earlier this year, ISRO conducted its first biology-related space experiments using the POEM module, growing Lobia seeds, bacteria, and spinach cell aggregates in microgravity. These simple trials laid the foundation for more advanced biotechnology research in space.