India Joins Global Space Research: ISRO to Study Long-Term Space Missions on Ax-4

ISRO is conducting research on Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) in collaboration with NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA) to support long-duration space missions.

With duration up to 14 days docked at the International Space Station (ISS), the Ax-4 astronauts crew will led by Commander Peggy Whitson (USA), with Pilot Shubhanshu Shukla (India), Mission Specialist Slawosz Uznański-Wisniewski (Poland), and Mission Specialist Tibor Kapu (Hungary).

The studies aim to enhance India's capabilities in space exploration and contribute to global scientific progress.

India's Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla will pilot the Ax-4 mission, which includes around 60 scientific studies, with 7 led by Indian space agency ISRO. Shukla will serve as the mission pilot, making him the second Indian citizen to travel to space after Rakesh Sharma.

Shukla and his backup astronaut, Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair, have undergone rigorous training with NASA and Axiom Space.

The Ax-4 crew 

 

Pilot Shubhanshu Shukla

India is working alongside NASA, ESA, and Axiom Space, strengthening its presence in international space exploration. This mission is a stepping stone for India's future human spaceflight programs, including Gaganyaan.

In an announcement, Axiom Space said, "ISRO has a strong portfolio of life science experiments. In collaboration with NASA and Redwire, the "Space Microalgae" project investigates the impact of microgravity on the growth, metabolism, and genetic activity of three strains of edible microalgae. These tiny organisms could become a sustainable food source for long-duration space missions, thanks to their rich protein, lipid, and bioactive components." 

Some key research areas include:

• Human Research: Studying how astronauts interact with electronic displays in microgravity to improve spacecraft computer design.
• Life Sciences: Investigating microalgae and cyanobacteria growth in space, which could lead to sustainable food sources and environmental control systems.
• Muscle Regeneration: Exploring metabolic supplements to prevent muscle atrophy in astronauts.
• Crop Growth: Examining the germination and growth of crop seeds in microgravity to support future space farming.
• ISRO is also exploring the potential of growing crops in space. The "Sprouting Salad Seeds in Space" experiment, in collaboration with NASA and BioServe Space Technologies, investigates the germination and growth of crop seeds in microgravity. 
• Tardigrade: In partnership with NASA and Voyager, ISRO is studying the resilience of tardigrades, tiny creatures known for their ability to survive extreme conditions. This experiment will examine the revival, survival, and reproduction of tardigrades on the International Space Station, comparing gene expression patterns between space-flown and ground control populations. Understanding the molecular mechanisms of their resilience could inform future space exploration and lead to innovative biotechnology applications on Earth.

The mission is expected to launch no earlier than May 2025 and will be docked at the International Space Station (ISS) for up to 14 days.

Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4)

Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) is a private astronaut mission to the International Space Station (ISS), organized by Axiom Space in collaboration with NASA, ISRO, and the European Space Agency (ESA). The mission is scheduled to launch no earlier than May 2025 and will be docked at the ISS for up to 14 days.

Key Details:

• Crew: Led by Commander Peggy Whitson (USA), with Pilot Shubhanshu Shukla (India), Mission Specialist Slawosz Uznański-Wisniewski (Poland), and Mission Specialist Tibor Kapu (Hungary).
• Research Focus: Ax-4 will conduct around 60 scientific studies, including seven led by ISRO, covering human research, life sciences, muscle regeneration, and crop growth in microgravity.
• Significance: This mission marks India’s second human spaceflight and strengthens its presence in global space exploration.

Ax-4 is shaping up to be one of the most research-intensive missions yet!

Next-Gen Spacesuits to Allow Astronauts Communicate via Voice and Video

Soon, Astronauts will be able to communicate more effectively with mission control and other crew members on the lunar surface. This real-time communication can improve safety, coordination, and decision-making during missions.

Artemis III, the first crewed NASA mission to set foot on the Moon in more than 50 years, will be a historic mission, returning astronauts to the Moon for the first time since Apollo 17 in 1972.

Axiom Space has partnered with Nokia to integrate advanced 4G/LTE communication capabilities into the next-generation spacesuits for the Artemis III lunar mission.

These spacesuits, known as the Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit (AxEMU), will support HD video, telemetry data, and voice transmission over multiple kilometers on the Moon. This advancement will allow Artemis III crewmembers to capture real-time video and communicate with mission controllers on Earth while exploring the lunar surface.

Image credit: Axiom Space

Texas, US-headquartered privately funded space infrastructure developer, Axiom Space, has selected Nokia’s Lunar Surface Communications System (LSCS) for integration into its AxEMU spacesuits, which Artemis III astronauts will wear as they work on the lunar surface.

In its collaboration with Axiom Space on the Artemis III lunar spacesuit, Nokia intends to prove that the same cellular technologies that connect billions of devices on Earth can meet the critical communications needs of these seminal missions.

Together, Nokia and Axiom Space will incorporate high-speed cellular-network capabilities in AxEMU, supporting HD video, telemetry data and voice transmission over multiple kilometers on the Moon. This advancement will enable Artemis III crewmembers to capture real-time video and communicate with mission controllers on Earth while they explore the lunar surface.

The ability to transmit HD video and telemetry data over longer distances will facilitate scientific research, exploration, and documentation. Astronauts can share their experiences and findings with experts back on Earth.

Noki plans to deploy the first cellular network on the Moon as part of Intuitive Machines’ IM-2 mission, which is scheduled to be delivered to the launch site in this year only.

The Lunar Surface Communications System (LSCS)

Nokia’s Lunar Surface Communications System (LSCS), pioneered by Nokia Bell Labs’ research and innovation, will be deployed during IM-2 and will be further adapted for use in the AxEMU spacesuit.

While it is a 4G/LTE system at its heart, it is quite different to any cellular network on Earth.

4G/LTE Space Hardware

Nokia Bell Labs completely reconceptualized the hardware and software design of a 4G/LTE network, we experience on the Earth, to prepare the system for the unique operating parameters of a lunar mission and the harsh conditions of the Moon’s surface.

The LCS has been carefully engineered to withstand the extreme environmental conditions on the lunar surface, including radiation, extreme temperature variations and the Moon’s complete lack of atmosphere.

Finally, the equipment is designed to withstand the dynamic stresses of launch, spaceflight and lunar landing, as well as to meet Artemis III’s rigorous weight, size and power limitations.

Notably, the LSCS is the result of nearly two decades of research and innovation into automation, optimization, miniaturization and hardware and software integration. Nokia Bell Labs completely reconceptualized the hardware and software design of a terrestrial 4G/LTE network to prepare the system for the unique operating parameters of a lunar mission and the harsh conditions of the Moon’s surface.

The LSCS has two main components. First, a network-in-a-box combines the radio, base station, routing, security and core elements of a terrestrial network into a single highly resilient unit that will be integrated into the HLS. Second, device modules will be integrated into Axiom Space’s AxEMU spacesuits, providing mobile voice and broadband connectivity up to two kilometers away from the Artemis III human landing system (HLS).

The LSCS network system software is highly integrated and optimized, creating an extremely compact system that is fully autonomous and capable of self-deploying, self-configuring and self-healing.

As lunar missions become more frequent, this collaboration between Axiom Space and Nokia sets a precedent for developing lunar communication infrastructure. Future missions may build upon this technology or explore even more advanced communication systems.