Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, currently aboard the International Space Station (ISS), has shared a captivating view of Earth from the ISS observatory. Shukla's journey marks a significant milestone as he is the first Indian astronaut to visit the ISS. He reached the ISS on June 26 for a 14-day mission and is completing his assigned scientific tasks.
Shukla, serving as pilot for the Ax-4 mission, launched towards the International Space Station (ISS) on June 25. The mission is a collaboration between NASA, SpaceX, and ISRO, intended to strengthen international spaceflight cooperation. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket successfully launched the mission from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Centre.
During his time on the ISS, Shukla is actively involved in a variety of scientific research, technology demonstrations, and global outreach activities. Axiom Space reports that the crew has completed nine productive days dedicated to these tasks. He documented the myogenesis investigation, which explores how the absence of gravity accelerates muscle atrophy. This research aims to examine the cellular and molecular mechanisms behind skeletal muscle weakening to develop countermeasures for preserving muscle health. Shukla also deployed and stowed samples for the Space Micro Algae experiment. Researchers will analyze changes in their genetic makeup, microbial communities, and nutritional content. The goal of the 'Sprouts project' is to advance humanity's understanding of sustainable crop production in space for future long-duration missions. Additionally, Shukla recorded a STEM demonstration illustrating the differences between physical and chemical changes in microgravity. This experiment highlights how the absence of gravity alters familiar processes such as mixing substances, phase transitions, and reactions that produce gases or heat.
Shukla's mission holds immense significance for India's space program. He is the second Indian to travel to orbit, following Rakesh Sharma in 1984, and the first to visit the ISS. He sees no borders from space. He hopes his mission can inspire a new generation of Indian astronauts. He stated that even though he is traveling to space as an individual, this is the journey of 1.4 billion people.
The ISS, a joint venture involving 15 countries including the US, Russia, and Japan, has been orbiting Earth for over a quarter of a century. Traveling at a speed of 27,500 km per hour, the space station orbits approximately 400 km above the Earth's surface. Sightings of the ISS are usually visible just after sunset and just before sunrise when sunlight reflects off its surface.
