Shubhanshu Shukla Pioneers Digestive Science Research for Indian Students During Axiom-4 Mission

ISRO astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, part of the Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) aboard the International Space Station (ISS), conducted scientific investigations on muscle health, digestive system adaptation, and astronaut well-being. Shukla used the Kibo laboratory’s Life Sciences Glovebox to study muscle stem cells in microgravity and produced an educational video for Indian students on how the human digestive system adapts to space. ISRO’s Myogenesis experiment, is focused on understanding how muscle cells regenerate in space, addressing the muscle loss experienced by astronauts during extended missions. The research aims to develop treatments for muscle-related issues on Earth and improve astronaut health during long-duration spaceflights. Other crew members of the Ax-4 mission are also involved in research on blood pressure, balance, vision and brain-computer interfaces. The Ax-4 mission is happening at the same time as the ISS’s Expedition 73, which is centered on privately funded science and research related to human health and biology in space.