Axiom-4 to launch on Thursday; ISRO refreshes samples for astronaut Shukla's experiments
The
Indian Space Research Organisation
(
ISRO
) on Monday said it is working closely with US-based Axiom Space to refresh time-sensitive experimental specimens, following the rescheduling of the Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission to the
International Space Station
(ISS) for June 19.
The Ax-4 Mission will fly Group Captain
Shubhanshu Shukla
and three other members to the ISS for 14 days. So far, the launch has been postponed four times due to issues in the electrical harness in the Crew
Dragon Module
, unpreparedness of the launch vehicle
Falcon
9, weather conditions, and oxygen leakage in the engine bay of the ISS.
ISRO will conduct seven experiments as part of Ax‑4. These will be in the areas of biological processes, crop growth, and use of technology in microgravity—more specifically, crop seed and microalgae growth, where the Indian astronaut will test moong, methi, and microalgae for food and sustainability. Experiments on muscle stem cells in weightlessness and how astronauts interact with screens in microgravity will also be conducted.
While some experiments do not need a refresh, many involve live organisms or biological samples such as microbes, seeds, and cells. These degrade or change if left unused for too long pre-launch. To avoid failure, ISRO will replace or re-prepare samples to ensure they remain scientifically valid once aboard the ISS.
Union minister of state for science and technology Jitendra Singh on Sunday said the Axiom team has conveyed that all the issues have been addressed and that India's representative Shukla will conduct all the experiments in space. 'The Axiom mission has a lot of components from the department of biotechnology, and Shukla will conduct exclusive experiments,' he said, emphasising the importance of needing to boost space activities for research.
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