Axiom Mission 4's final phase: Microalgae to mental health
Indian pilot Shubhanshu Shukla, on the Ax-4 mission at the ISS, helped track how seeds sprout and survive in space.
He also worked with microalgae, which could one day help astronauts make their own oxygen, food, or even fuel during long missions.
Protecting muscles and studying mental health
The crew tested ways to protect muscles using stem cells and neuromuscular stimulation—important since muscles weaken in zero gravity.
They also ran memory and learning tests to see how brains adapt up there.
Eye movement and mental health studies could lead to better remote check-ups for future crews.
How to make life safer in orbit
To make life safer in orbit, the team checked how heat moves through clothing (think: comfier spacesuits), tracked radiation exposure with dosimeters, and used AI to spot early health issues from biosensor data.
Engaging the next generation of scientists
Mission Specialist Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski chatted live with 300 Polish students about life on the ISS and why this research matters.
The Ax-4 crew is not just pushing science forward—they're making sure young minds get excited about STEM and space exploration too.