Indian astronaut to lead scientific research in space under international mission

India’s expanding role in international space exploration has reached a major milestone, as Indian Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is set to conduct key scientific experiments in space. This is reported by IANS, a partner of TV BRICS.

Shukla will take part in an international space mission with clearly defined scientific responsibilities – a first for an Indian astronaut.

Shukla’s research will cover a broad spectrum of scientific investigations during the mission. These include studying physical, cognitive and physiological responses in a microgravity environment and exploring the impact of prolonged exposure to electronic displays – a critical area of interest for future long-duration spaceflights.

One of the core areas of his work will focus on skeletal muscle dysfunction in space and evaluating potential therapeutic strategies to counteract it. The astronaut will also experiment with extremophiles such as tardigrades – microscopic organisms known for surviving the harshest of conditions.

According to experts, these studies may provide new insights into the possibilities of sustaining life beyond Earth.

Group Captain Shukla is one of four astronauts selected for India’s upcoming Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission, scheduled for early 2027.

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