Gaganyaan Mission Breakthrough: How India’s Shubhanshu Shukla is Revolutionizing Space Food

India’s Shubhanshu Shukla Pioneers Microalgae Experiment for Gaganyaan
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, India’s first astronaut on the International Space Station (ISS), is leading a critical experiment for ISRO. His work focuses on microalgae cultivation in microgravity, a project that could revolutionize space missions by providing:
Sustainable food sources for long-duration travel.
Biofuel and life-support systems for future spaceflights.
Data on growth and genetic changes in algae under zero gravity.

Shukla deployed sample bags and documented three algae strains to compare their behavior in space versus Earth. The findings may help ISRO develop advanced life-support technologies for the Gaganyaan Mission, India’s first crewed spaceflight.

Why This Matters for Competitive Exams
Relevance to Current Affairs: ISRO’s Gaganyaan Mission is a hot topic for SSC, PSC, and UPSC exams.
Science & Tech Focus: Questions on space research, microgravity, and sustainable tech are common in NID, NIFT, and FDDI entrance tests.
GK Boost: Understanding India’s role in space exploration strengthens general knowledge sections.


Sample Exam Questions & Answers
Q: Who is leading ISRO’s microalgae experiment on the ISS?
A: Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla.
Q: How could microalgae benefit the Gaganyaan Mission?
A: By providing sustainable food, fuel, and life-support systems.
Q: What is the goal of the Neuro Motion VR project on the ISS?
A: To study how microgravity affects cognitive and motor functions.
Q: Which spacecraft carried Shubhanshu Shukla to the ISS?
A: SpaceX Dragon.
Q: Name one application of microalgae in space exploration.
A: Oxygen production or nutrient-rich food for astronauts.