Indian Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla Conducts Space Research on Muscle Health and Digestion for Axiom-4 Mission

ISRO astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, part of the Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) aboard the International Space Station (ISS), undertook a series of scientific experiments on Monday. These experiments concentrated on muscle health, the human digestive system’s adaptation to space, and the mental well-being of astronauts. Shukla’s work within the Kibo laboratory’s Life Sciences Glovebox included studying muscle stem cells in microgravity. He also created an educational video for Indian students, explaining the digestive system’s adaptation in space. The Myogenesis experiment, an ISRO initiative, explores how muscle cells regenerate in space, addressing the muscle loss astronauts experience. The research could lead to treatments for muscle-related problems on Earth and improve astronaut health in space. The Ax-4 mission also involves other crew members performing various research, including vein scans, and brain-computer interface tests. The mission is running concurrently with the ISS’s Expedition 73, focusing on science funded privately and research related to human health and biology in space.