India is set to make a groundbreaking contribution to space biotechnology as Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, one of the country’s astronauts, prepares to conduct exclusive food and nutrition experiments aboard the International Space Station (ISS) as part of the Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4). Union Minister for the Department of Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh, announced the mission, emphasizing that India’s research aboard the ISS will focus on sustainable space nutrition and life-support systems essential for long-duration space travel.
Shukla will serve as Mission Pilot alongside Commander Peggy Whitson (USA, former NASA astronaut), Mission Specialist Sawosz Uznaski-Winiewski (Poland/ESA), and Mission Specialist Tibor Kapu (Hungary/ESA) on the Ax-4 mission, managed by Axiom Space and launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. His participation marks India’s entry into astronaut-scientist-led space biology research aboard the ISS.
Under the ISRO-DBT collaboration, India has developed indigenous biotechnology kits specifically designed for microgravity research, showcasing the country’s growing self-reliance in space-based scientific tools. The first ISS experiment will examine the impact of microgravity and space radiation on edible microalgae, such as Spirulina and Synechococcus, investigating their viability as high-nutrient food sources for future space missions. The research will focus on growth patterns, metabolic changes, and potential biomanufacturing applications, ensuring that astronauts have sustainable, closed-loop life-support systems.
A second experiment will assess the proteomic response of cyanobacteria grown using nitrogen sources derived from human waste, such as urea-based media, exploring its implications for biological recycling aboard spacecraft. These studies aim to maximize resource efficiency while establishing long-term survival strategies for deep-space exploration.
The ISRO-DBT Joint Working Group (JWG) has also been constituted to accelerate collaborations in Space Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing, fostering new research initiatives on in-space nutrient production, regenerative bioengineering, and extraterrestrial biomanufacturing. Institutions such as the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), New Delhi, and BRIC-inStem, Bengaluru, are actively developing new experiment proposals for future space missions.
Dr. Jitendra Singh highlighted that India’s advancements in space biology reflect Atmanirbhar Bharat’s vision for technological leadership, ensuring that human spaceflight missions are supported by cutting-edge indigenous solutions. With its pioneering research, India is not just reaching space, but shaping the future of human survival beyond Earth.
