Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, currently on a 14-day scientific expedition aboard the International Space Station (ISS) as part of the Axiom-4 mission, is scheduled to interact with students and engineers in India via ham radio. The interaction is planned for Friday, July 4th, and will be facilitated through a telebridge set up at the U R Rao Satellite Centre (URSC) in Bengaluru.

This event, coordinated by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), aims to inspire the next generation of space enthusiasts by connecting them with an astronaut in real-time. Shukla, who is the first Indian to reach the ISS and only the second Indian in space after Rakesh Sharma, will be engaging with students and ISRO scientists from his orbital post.

The Amateur Radio on International Space Station (ARISS) is facilitating this interaction, which provides opportunities for students worldwide to engage with astronauts on the ISS through amateur radio communication. The ARISS announced the upcoming contact via a post on X, specifying the date and time as July 4th at 10:17 UTC, which translates to 6:17 AM ET and 3:47 PM ISS time, using the K6DUE telebridge.

During the ham radio session, students and engineers will have the unique opportunity to ask Shukla questions about life and research in microgravity and witness real-time international space communication. This direct interaction with an Indian astronaut orbiting Earth is expected to be a significant milestone for India's space outreach programs.

Ham radio, also known as amateur radio, is a non-commercial radio-communication service operated by licensed enthusiasts. It is valued for its reliability during emergencies when conventional communication methods are unavailable. Astronauts aboard the ISS regularly use ham radio to connect with schools and amateur radio clubs globally, making space exploration more accessible and interactive.

Shukla's 14-day mission on the ISS involves conducting several scientific experiments. Recently, he was involved in the space microalgae experiment, where he deployed sample bags and captured images of the algae strains. Additionally, Shukla is conducting seven cutting-edge experiments designed by Indian scientists, exploring various aspects of biology, food, medicine, and mental health in microgravity. These experiments include growing Indian superfoods like moong and methi in zero gravity and studying the behavior of microbes in space. Research is also being conducted on muscle loss, the mental health impacts of screen exposure, and the aging of human cells in orbit. Scientists are also assessing the viability of growing edible algae as a nutritious food source in space.

Shukla's journey to the ISS began with a launch aboard the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, accompanied by three other astronauts from different nations. He serves as the mission pilot for the Dragon spacecraft, a role that involves supervising the autonomous flight and docking procedures. The mission encountered several delays before the successful launch, requiring the crew to remain in quarantine for nearly a month while SpaceX, Axiom, NASA, and ISRO addressed technical issues and replenished biological test samples.