From Rakesh to Shubhanshu: India’s 41-year space evolution takes flight

The global space industry is currently worth around $500 billion (INR 41.75 Lakh Crores) and is expected to double by 2030. But India, even though it’s a major player in space, holds only about 2% of this huge market (₹83,000 Crores).

NASA, Axiom Space, and SpaceX are planning to launch the fourth private astronaut mission to the International Space Station—called Axiom Mission 4—at 2:31 a.m. EDT (12:01 p.m. IST) on Wednesday, June 25. The launch will take place from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The crew will head to the space station aboard a new SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, which will be launched by a Falcon 9 rocket. Docking with the space station is expected around 7:00 a.m. EDT (4:30 p.m. IST) on Thursday, June 26.

Today, Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla’s journey to the International Space Station (ISS) on the Axiom-4 mission is seen as a major turning point for India’s space journey. In recent years, ISRO has taken big steps with important missions, especially the Chandrayaan-3 Moon landing, which brought global attention to India’s space progress.

Now, with Shukla’s spaceflight, India is entering a new phase. While this may not yet be India’s own human spaceflight under the Gaganyaan mission, it’s more than just joining someone else’s project. The Axiom-4 mission is closely linked to India’s future plans and will give important experience and information for upcoming missions like Gaganyaan.

India in Space: A Journey from Rakesh Sharma to Shubhanshu Shukla

When Rakesh Sharma went to space with the Russian mission in 1984, it was a moment of great pride for the entire country. People were thrilled, and it gave a glimpse of India’s dreams and ambitions in space.

However, at that time, India’s space program was still at a very early stage. The country lacked the infrastructure and technology needed to fully benefit from that achievement. There was no clear plan or long-term goal for human spaceflight. As a result, Sharma’s historic journey remained a proud but one-time event, without follow-up missions.

This is what makes Shukla’s space journey very different. Rakesh Sharma’s flight was important for inspiring the country, but it did not lead to direct benefits. In contrast, Shukla’s mission will be useful in a practical way too.

Over the years, ISRO has grown into one of the top space agencies in the world, handling many advanced missions. Human spaceflight is one of the few major goals that ISRO is yet to achieve—and Shukla’s mission is an important step toward reaching it.

How Shukla’s Experience Will Support Gaganyaan

Human space missions are very difficult—especially when it’s the first time. They are much more complicated than missions without astronauts because many safety measures need to be included to protect human life. This is the big challenge ISRO is facing with the Gaganyaan mission. Any extra help or information that can make the mission safer and less risky is extremely valuable.

That’s why Shukla’s role in the Axiom-4 mission is so important. He will get real experience in space, which can help with India’s Gaganyaan mission. As the pilot of Axiom-4, Shukla will learn many useful things during the mission that can be used in future space programs.

Even though much of the spacecraft works automatically, it still needs a human to step in and help. The journey is not a straight path. The spacecraft has to follow a tricky route to reach the ISS, which keeps moving in space. During the trip, the pilot has to make many decisions and start different tasks to guide the spacecraft safely to its destination.

This kind of real experience is very important for other Indian astronauts who will go on the Gaganyaan mission. Practicing through training or computer simulations is not the same as being in space. So far, only Rakesh Sharma has gone to space, and that was many years ago when technology was very different. In countries with human space programs, astronauts often share their knowledge with future teams, which helps a lot. India can benefit in the same way.

Shukla will also be the first Indian to visit the International Space Station (ISS). He will get a chance to see how the space station works in real life. After the Gaganyaan mission, ISRO’s next big goal is to build India’s own space station, which is a huge and complex project. After spending about two weeks on the ISS, Shukla will be able to give important suggestions and ideas based on his experience.

Microgravity Tests by ISRO on Axiom-4

ISRO has planned some exciting experiments for the Axiom-4 mission. These experiments are important because they will help ISRO in its future space projects. This is the first time ISRO is getting a chance to do specially designed experiments in space. Most of them are related to biology, while a few focus on testing new technologies.

Space has microgravity, which means gravity is very weak, and this allows scientists to do experiments that are hard to do on Earth. One of ISRO’s experiments is about how muscles behave. Muscles can become weak due to natural aging or because of a person’s weight. On Earth, it’s hard to separate these two reasons because gravity affects everything. But in space, without gravity, scientists can study how muscles change only due to natural reasons. This can help us better understand human health and find new ways to treat muscle problems.

Seeds Growing in Space

This mission will carry out experiments to see how green gram (moong) and fenugreek (methi) seeds grow in space, where there is very little gravity.

These seeds are commonly used in Indian food and are known to be healthy and useful for medicine. They were chosen because they are important in our diet and might also grow well in space. The experiment will help scientists see how seeds grow and develop in space, where conditions are very different from Earth.

Right now, astronauts have enough food in space. But in the future, growing Indian foods like moong and methi could give them fresh and healthy options, especially during long missions.

After the seeds come back from space, scientists will grow them again and again on Earth. They will check if space travel caused any changes in the seeds—like how they grow, how healthy they are, or how they react with good or bad microbes.

This full study will help find any good changes in the plants because of space. These changes might help us grow stronger and better crops, both in space and here on Earth.

This experiment is part of ISRO’s bigger plan to create systems that can support human life in space for a long time—like in the upcoming Gaganyaan mission and the future Bharatiya Antariksh space station.

By choosing crops like moong and methi, which are healthy and familiar to Indians, ISRO wants to make sure astronauts can eat fresh food in space. This will help keep them healthy during long space trips.

The experiment is being done by the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST) and Kerala Agricultural University. It is one of seven space experiments chosen by ISRO for the Axiom-4 mission, showing India’s strong efforts to grow in space science and technology.

This project not only helps India learn how to grow food in space but also adds to the world’s knowledge about how plants grow outside Earth.

Microalgae: A Space Superfood

Microalgae are tiny living things that are very useful. They produce oxygen, take in carbon dioxide, and are full of nutrients. In the Space Microalgae experiment, astronaut Shukla will study how they grow in space, where there is almost no gravity.

If the experiment works well, microalgae could be used as a healthy and long-lasting food for astronauts on long space trips. They might also help clean the air and support life in space. In the future, they could even be useful on Earth—especially in places where food and clean air are hard to get.

Survival of Tardigrades in Space

The Voyager Tardigrade–ISRO experiment is about studying tiny creatures called tardigrades, also known as water bears. These small animals live in water and are known for surviving very harsh conditions like strong radiation, no air (vacuum), and extreme cold.

Astronaut Shukla will watch how these creatures live and grow in space. Scientists will also compare them with similar tardigrades on Earth to see if space changes them in any way.

The goal is to understand how tardigrades stay alive in such tough conditions. This could help in finding ways to protect astronauts from space radiation and may even lead to new medicines or materials that can survive in extreme places on Earth.

How Humans Use Technology in Space

The Voyager Displays–ISRO experiment studies how astronauts use screens and other devices in space, where there is very little gravity. In space, the way people move, see, and touch things can change.

Astronaut Shukla will do tasks using his eyes and hands, like looking at screens and touching them, to see how space affects these actions.

The aim is to make space technology—like control panels and touchscreens—easier and safer to use. This research can also help people on Earth who work in high-pressure jobs, like pilots or emergency workers, where fast and clear use of digital tools is very important.

Building India’s Future Space Station

The Space Station will help us take the next big steps in exploring space. It is like a training ground where we can learn how to live and work away from Earth.

It will help scientists study what happens to the human body when people live without gravity for a long time. This is important before we send astronauts on long trips, like to Mars or other planets. The Space Station will also be used to test and improve current space systems to make future missions safer.

Researchers will also use it to study important things like how liquids move, how fire behaves in space, how life support systems work, and how space radiation affects people. All this knowledge is needed to prepare for longer and deeper space missions in the future.

 Boosting Space Economy and Inspiring Young Minds

Shukla’s spaceflight is just the start of a journey that will eventually lead to India’s planned human mission to the Moon by 2040. But before we get there, India needs to build a strong support system for space activities—and that includes involving private companies.

Space missions cost a lot of money, and working with private companies can help in many ways. It can speed up new ideas, bring in better technology, and make the space sector more exciting. It can also create more jobs and help the economy grow.

Right now, the global space industry is worth about $500 billion (₹41.75 lakh crore) and is expected to double by 2030. But India holds only 2% of this big market (₹83,000 crore)—even though it’s a leading country in space missions. The goal is to increase India’s share to at least 10% in the coming years.

Flights like Shukla’s can help make this happen. They capture the attention of school children and inspire them. Unlike 40 years ago, today’s kids have the chance and the environment to turn their space dreams into real careers. This could bring a new wave of young talent into India’s growing space industry.

(Girish Linganna is an award-winning science communicator and a Defence, Aerospace & Geopolitical Analyst. He is the Managing Director of ADD Engineering Components India Pvt. Ltd., a subsidiary of ADD Engineering GmbH, Germany. Contact: girishlinganna@gmail.com )

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