Orbit of Hope & Pride

Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla's historic Axiom-4 mission has connected India's space dream with people-centric science by conducting crucial microgravity experiments in space — heralding Viksit Bharat @2047

- JITENDRA SINGH

It was a moment of reckoning! A long cherished dream took flight on 25 June 2025 when Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, an Indian Air Force officer and ISRO-trained astronaut, soared into orbit aboard the Axiom-4 mission. Docking with the International Space Station (ISS) a day later, he became the face of India's next great leap — not just into space, but into the future of human-centric science, medicine and technology.

This wasn't just a ceremonial voyage. It was a scientific crusade. Shukla carried with him seven microgravity experiments, each meticulously designed by Indian researchers to answer questions that matter — not just to astronauts, but to farmers, doctors, engineers and students across the nation, and indeed across the world.

Consider the sprouting of methi and moong seeds in space. It sounds simple, almost poetic. But its implications are profound. In the confined quarters of a spacecraft, where every gram of nutrition counts, understanding how Indian crops behave in microgravity could redefine crew diets for long-duration missions. More importantly, it could inspire innovations in vertical farming and hydroponics back on Earth, especially in regions battling soil degradation and water scarcity.