Ax-4 mission will see around 60 experiments, including 7 led by Isro

BENGALURU : The Axiom-4 mission (Ax-4), which will be piloted by India’s Group Captain

Shubhanshu Shukla

to the International Space Station (

ISS

) some time in May or early June will have a research complement of around 60 scientific studies, including seven from India.
Revealing these details,

Axiom

Space — Ax-4 is Axiom’s fourth private astronaut mission — said the studies and research activities represent 31 countries, including the US, India, Poland, Hungary, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Nigeria, UAE, and nations across Europe.
“This will be the most research and science-related activities conducted on an Axiom Space mission aboard ISS to date, underscoring the mission’s global significance and collaborative nature to advance microgravity research in low-Earth orbit (LEO),” the US-based firm said.
Unique to this mission is a strong focus on scientific portfolios led by countries represented on the Ax-4 mission, including the US, India, Poland in partnership with the European Space Agency (

ESA

), and Hungary.

Isro-led research, in collaboration with Nasa and ESA, focuses on advancing microgravity research aboard the ISS to enhance our understanding of biological processes in microgravity and develop strategies for long-duration space missions.
“The scientific experiments are set to drive significant advancements in space science and technology while also inspiring the next generation of Indian scientists and engineers. Ax-4 strengthens India’s presence in space and promotes the country's dedication to contributing to global scientific progress,” the firm said.

The first three Isro-led research studies will focus on ‘investigating the physical and cognitive impact of computer screens in microgravity’, ‘studying growth, metabolism, and genetics of three microalgae strains in microgravity versus ground’ and ‘comparing growth, cellular responses, and biochemistry of two cyanobacteria strains in microgravity’.
The other four are: ‘Identifying pathways of skeletal muscle dysfunction in microgravity and exploring therapies’, ‘investigating the impacts of spaceflight on germination and growth of crop seeds’, ‘examining spaceflight impacts on six crop seed varieties’, and ‘identifying molecular mechanisms of resilience in extreme environments’.
Axiom is leading a diverse array of research initiatives to advance scientific understanding of microgravity’s effects and better understand astronaut health and performance during space missions. These projects cover a wide range of topics, including medical support for diabetic astronauts, the effects of microgravity on the brain and body, and the collection of vital health data.
“The research also delves into the impact of space travel on joints, blood flow, stem cells, cancer growth, and radiation exposure. By addressing these critical areas, Axiom Space aims to enhance the overall well-being and readiness of astronauts for future missions and translate findings into benefits for Earth-based research,” the firm said.
The Axiom-led research studies will focus on: ‘Researching how to support astronauts with insulin-dependent diabetes during short-duration missions in microgravity’, ‘examining microgravity’s impact on the brain and cognitive risks’, ‘collecting physiological and psychological data from astronauts to understand how humans adapt to space’, and ‘studying the effects of short spaceflights on joints and blood flow’.
It will also look at: ‘Assessing astronaut readiness using a wearable device, iPhone software, and AWS Snowcone analytics’, ‘developing infrastructure for wearable device data processing during the Ax-4 mission’, ‘investigating cancer growth in space, focusing on triple-negative breast cancer,’ and ‘understanding the effects on blood stem cells during spaceflight’.
The European Space Agency (ESA) and Poland research features comprehensive scientific research and technology demonstrations. Focused on various experiments the Polish space industry proposed and developed under ESA’s guidance, these experiments aim to advance the understanding of space-related challenges and contribute to future space exploration efforts.
“Their research includes, studying astronauts’ mental and behavioural health on the International Space Station; monitoring bone loss upon re-entry after space missions; examining bone markers to predict recovery behaviour; evaluating neurofeedback for stress reduction and performance; investigating gut microbiome changes during short-term space stays,” Axiom said.
It added that the ESA/Poland research also includes: ‘examining immune cell adaptation to microgravity; monitoring astronauts' soft tissue health during missions’, ‘exploring muscle electrical stimulation to protect muscle mass in microgravity’, ‘using brain imaging technology to develop a human-computer interface in microgravity’, ‘testing methods to extend pharmaceutical shelf-life in space; testing an acoustic monitor on the ISS’, ‘advancing onboard data processing for space and Earth applications’, ‘measuring space radiation levels with a monitor in the Columbus module’, ‘assessing six wearable biomonitor devices for function and stability in space’, ‘investigating red microalgae for long-duration space missions’, and ‘investigating a tardigrade gene in yeast for microgravity protection’.
The Hungarian To Orbit (Hunor) programme research on Ax-4 encompasses a range of scientific experiments designed to enhance knowledge of space and its impacts on humans and materials. These studies aim to provide valuable insights for space exploration and potential Earth-based applications.
Among the Hunor research activities are: ‘Examining how space conditions affect human bacterial, viral, and fungal microbiomes’, ‘investigating microgravity's effect on cognitive function and motor skills’, ‘demonstrating the application of nanofibrous eye inserts in microgravity’, and ‘examining low-melting point metal behaviour for next-generation ion-jet propulsion systems’.
They also include: ‘Monitoring crew radiation exposure and environmental conditions with a personal dosimetry device’, ‘mimicking planet-scale atmospheric dynamics with a novel way of spinning a water sphere in microgravity’, ‘investigating how fruit flies fight radiation-induced DNA damage with enhanced biochemical processes’, ‘studying plant germination, microgreen production, and leaf development’, ‘examining microfluidic drug testing chips in space’.
Axiom added that they will also have the following: “Studying associative learning and visual processing in space; examining changes in cardiovascular and balancing systems; understanding cerebral blood flow adaptation to spaceflight; validating clothing heat transfer simulation in different gravity environments for improved astronaut thermal comfort; testing precise position tracking with standard inertial sensors in space; exploring spaceflight effects on 3D printed materials; studying upper atmospheric thunderstorms, and, demonstrating gravitational curiosities during a joint physics class with students from across Hungary.”