India’s Space Leap: Shubhanshu Shukla’s Ax-4 Mission to Test Space Nutrition & Diabetic Research

Shubhanshu Shukla & the Ax-4 Mission: A New Chapter in Space Exploration
The Axiom Space Ax-4 mission is set to launch on June 10, 2024, from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. This 14-day mission will see Indian astronaut Captain Shubhanshu Shukla piloting the Dragon spacecraft, becoming only the second Indian in space after Rakesh Sharma (1984).

Key Highlights of the Mission:
Launch Details: The Falcon 9 rocket will carry the crew, docking at the ISS on June 11 (10 PM IST) after a 28-hour journey.
International Crew: Shukla will join mission commander Peggy Whitson (NASA), Tibor Kapu (Hungary), and Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski (Poland).
ISRO’s Involvement: ISRO Chairman V Narayanan visited Axiom Space to oversee final preparations.

Groundbreaking Experiments on the ISS
During their stay, the crew will conduct 60 experiments from 31 countries, with Shukla leading India’s contributions:

Space Nutrition & Sustainability:
Studying methi (fenugreek) and moong (green gram) cultivation in microgravity.
Seeds exposed to space conditions will be brought back to Earth for further research.
Collaboration between ISRO, DBT (Department of Biotechnology), and NASA.

Diabetic Research for Future Space Travel:
Testing Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGMs) to help insulin-dependent diabetics travel safely.
Blood samples will validate CGM accuracy in space.
Two types of insulin pens (refrigerated & ambient) will be tested for durability.
Human Adaptation Studies:
Shukla will participate in five NASA-led studies on long-duration spaceflight effects.

Impact on India’s Gaganyaan Mission
With ₹550 crore invested, ISRO aims to use findings from Ax-4 for its 2027 Gaganyaan mission, advancing India’s manned spaceflight capabilities.

5 Sample Questions & Answers (FAQs)
Q1: Who is Shubhanshu Shukla, and why is his mission significant?
A: Shubhanshu Shukla is an Indian astronaut selected for the Axiom-4 mission, making him the second Indian in space after Rakesh Sharma. His experiments will support ISRO’s Gaganyaan mission.
Q2: What experiments will Shukla conduct on the ISS?
A: He will lead space farming (methi & moong seeds) and diabetic research (CGMs & insulin tests) alongside NASA and ISRO scientists.
Q3: When will the Ax-4 mission launch?
A: The mission launches on June 10, 2024, docking at the ISS on June 11 (10 PM IST).
Q4: How long will the crew stay in space?
A: The team will spend 14 days conducting experiments before returning.
Q5: How does this mission benefit India’s space program?
A: Data from Ax-4 will aid ISRO’s Gaganyaan mission (2027), improving life support systems for future astronauts.