After spending a full week aboard the International Space Station (ISS), Indian astronaut and Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, along with his Ax-4 mission crew members, got their first day off on July 3. During this time, they had completed 113 orbits around Earth and travelled 4.67 million km.
Axiom Space, which is running the mission with NASA and SpaceX, shared that the crew used their day off to relax and connect with loved ones back on Earth. From July 4, they will return to their packed schedule of scientific research and technology demonstrations.
The Ax-4 mission crew includes Commander Peggy Whitson, Pilot Shubhanshu “Shux” Shukla, and Mission Specialists Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski from Poland and Tibor Kapu from Hungary. They docked with the ISS on June 26, floating 400 km above Earth.
In just seven days, the crew has made key scientific contributions:
Peggy Whitson has been conducting cancer research, using microgravity to study how tumour cells behave, helping identify new treatment options for metastatic cancers.
Shubhanshu Shukla has been experimenting with algae growth and studying tardigrades (tiny resilient creatures) to understand cellular strength in space, with potential medical benefits on Earth.
Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski is testing a wearable device to monitor noise levels inside the ISS, aiming to improve astronaut health.
Tibor Kapu is tracking radiation levels with a Hungarian device and leading a project to grow microgreens in space, a step towards sustainable space farming.
Axiom Space called the mission historic as it’s the first time astronauts from India, Poland, and Hungary are part of a mission aboard the ISS. It also marks a return to human spaceflight for these nations after over 40 years.
The Ax-4 mission includes over 60 experiments during their two-week stay, highlighting the growing global collaboration in space exploration.
Meanwhile, Russia’s unpiloted Progress 92 spacecraft is on its way to the ISS. It launched from Kazakhstan and will dock on July 5, carrying about three tonnes of food, fuel, and supplies for the station.
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