India’s first in-orbit biomedical research: Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla makes history on ISS

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Siddeshkumar H P
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Meet Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla: India’s next man in space
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  • Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is India’s first in-orbit biomedical researcher
  • His ISS experiments tackle muscle loss, telehealth, and brain-computer interfaces
  • India’s space research aims to benefit astronauts and millions on Earth alike

Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla has scripted a new chapter for India in space science by becoming the first astronaut holding an Indian passport to carry out biomedical research aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Operating under the call sign ‘Shux’, Shukla is spearheading critical experiments that promise to transform both space medicine and healthcare back on Earth.

Also Read:Axiom-4 Mission makes historic docking with International Space Station

At the heart of his mission is the Myogenesis Experiment, conducted in the ISS’s Life Sciences Glovebox. This study aims to decode how microgravity affects the growth and function of skeletal muscle cells. Early results are striking, 3D tissue chip data reveals that muscle fibers in space become about 25.8% thinner, 23.7% shorter, and lose over 66% of their force generation capacity. By focusing on molecular regulators like MyoD1 and MyoG, Shukla’s research could help develop new treatments to counter muscle loss during long space missions and even age-related muscle wasting on Earth.

But his pioneering work doesn’t stop there. As part of the privately operated Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission, Shukla is also advancing other frontier studies. A standout is the Telemetric Health AI initiative, which combines ultrasound imaging with biometric data to monitor astronauts’ cardiovascular and balance systems in real-time, an innovation that could someday provide remote diagnostics in rural or underserved regions globally.

Another cutting-edge project, PhotonGrav, uses a brain-computer interface headset to map brain activity through cerebral blood flow. This research explores the possibility of thought-controlled spacecraft operations and could inspire breakthroughs in neurorehabilitation for stroke patients or individuals with mobility impairments.

India’s participation in Ax-4, with seven studies among 60 experiments from 31 nations, shows its growing commitment to human space research that unites exploration with life-saving medical innovation.

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