Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla became a space farmer on board the International Space Station (ISS) during the final stage of his space mission. He watched and recorded the germination of 'moong' and 'methi' seeds in petri dishes as part of a scientific experiment before putting them in a storage freezer. Understanding the effects of microgravity on seed germination and early plant development is the goal of the study.
Shukla has been on the ISS for 12 days as a member of the Axiom-4 mission. Depending on the weather near the Florida coast, he and his fellow astronauts are anticipated to return to Earth at any time after July 10. NASA has not yet confirmed an official date for the mission’s undocking. The Axiom-4 mission has a maximum duration of 14 days docked to the ISS.
Reflecting on his experience, Shukla expressed pride in contributing to Indian scientific research in space. “I am so proud that ISRO has been able to collaborate with national institutions all over the country and come up with some fantastic research which I am doing on the station for all the scientists and researchers. It is exciting and a joy to do this,” he said in a conversation with Lucie Low, Chief Scientist at Axiom Space.
The seed germination study is led by Dr Ravikumar Hosamani from the University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad, and Dr. Sudheer Siddapureddy from the Indian Institute of Technology, Dharwad. According to Axiom Space, the seeds will be brought back to Earth, where they will be cultivated over several generations to analyse genetic changes, microbial ecosystems, and nutritional variations resulting from their time in space.
Apart from the seed experiment, Shukla also produced food, oxygen, and even biofuels in space by deploying and retrieving microalgae. Microalgae are thought to hold great promise for supporting human life on extended space missions due to their adaptability and resilience.
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Additionally, Shukla had to take pictures for a different crop experiment that used six different seed types. In order to identify desirable traits for genetic analysis and sustainable farming in space environments, these will be cultivated over several generations following the mission. His research duties on the ISS covered a wide range of scientific disciplines. “Right from doing stem cell research, and looking at the effect of microgravity on seeds, to evaluating the cognitive load on astronauts while they interact with onboard screens—it has been fantastic,” he shared.
“I feel proud to be a bridge between researchers on Earth and the station, conducting this vital research on their behalf.” Shukla expressed particular enthusiasm about the stem cell research project he was involved in, where scientists are studying whether supplements can accelerate healing or cell regeneration.
“It has been great to work in the Glove Box doing this research. I am really excited to be part of it,” he said. Shubhanshu Shukla's multifaceted research work showcases India’s growing role in global space science and strengthens its contributions to the future of human space exploration.
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