Shubhanshu Shukla's Axiom-4 mission: A leap for India's space endeavors
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla became only the second Indian ever to reach space, joining the International Space Station (ISS) on SpaceX's Falcon 9 as part of the Axiom-4 mission.
This mission is all about pushing science and tech in orbit—and it's a big step for India since Rakesh Sharma's flight back in 1984.
What Shukla will do on ISS
Shukla and his crew will spend around two weeks on the ISS running experiments that matter for India's future space plans.
He's working with ISRO and NASA on muscle loss in microgravity using stem cells, plus testing how algae can capture carbon and make oxygen—stuff that could help astronauts live better during long missions.
Results will help Gaganyaan mission
The results from Shukla's work could shape ISRO's upcoming Gaganyaan missions and even plans for an Indian space station.
Figuring out how to keep astronauts healthy and create sustainable life-support systems is key if we want more Indians in space soon.
How to spot the ISS from Earth
You can actually see the ISS fly by overhead—it looks like a bright, fast-moving star.
Tools like NASA's Spot the Station make it easy to find out when you can catch it from your city, so you might just wave at Shukla as he orbits above!