Meet India's First Astronaut on the ISS: Shubhanshu Shukla's Groundbreaking Research

Shubhanshu Shukla's Mission in Space
New Delhi: Shubhanshu Shukla, recognized as India's inaugural astronaut aboard the International Space Station (ISS), is currently engaged in pioneering research on a brain-computer interface, as reported by NASA on Thursday.
As a participant in the Axiom Space mission-4, Shukla is utilizing near-infrared technology to advance this interface within the Columbus laboratory module, collaborating with a Polish astronaut.
NASA's blog highlighted, “Ax-4 crewmates Shubhanshu Shukla and Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski teamed up in Columbus to explore the use of near-infrared technology for recording brain activity aimed at developing brain-computer interfaces.”
Uznański-Wiśniewski donned a specialized cap linked via Bluetooth to a laptop that documented his brain activity, while Shukla focused on enhancing signal quality and calibrating the equipment.
This research investigates how astronauts can leverage their brain functions to control or communicate with computers in the unique environment of space, particularly under low-gravity conditions.
The experiment, titled “Thoughts over Gravity” (PhotonGrav), aims to assess the viability of near-infrared technology (fNIRS) in low Earth orbit for capturing brain activity to create brain-computer interfaces (BCI) suitable for microgravity.
Previously, Shukla conducted research in the Destiny laboratory module on the ISS, examining how tardigrades, resilient microscopic organisms, endure extreme environments, including microgravity. He deployed sample bags and documented images of algae strains aboard the ISS.
Additionally, he investigated muscle cell stem cultures under a microscope to gain insights into muscle repair processes in weightlessness.
Moreover, the Indian Air Force Group Captain has recorded an educational video for students, explaining how the human digestive system adapts to the conditions of space.
Shukla is also set to engage with students and scientists at the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) from his position in orbit via ham radio on Friday evening.
Born in Lucknow, Shukla is on a 14-day scientific mission aboard the ISS as part of the Axiom-4 mission, alongside three other astronauts from the US, Poland, and Hungary.
The Ax-4 crew is expected to conduct approximately 60 scientific investigations and commercial activities in microgravity, representing 31 countries, including the US, India, Poland, Hungary, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Nigeria, UAE, and various European nations.
India, through ISRO, has contributed seven meticulously chosen studies to this mission.