What will India's Shubhanshu Shukla do in space? Explained

India Today

Transcript

00:00In the vast expanse of space, where nations converge in pursuit of knowledge and exploration,

00:08a new chapter is being written.

00:10On 8th June 2025, the Exeum mission is set to launch from NASA's Kennedy Space Center,

00:16marking a historic moment for India and the global space community.

00:20For the first time ever, an Indian astronaut will head to the International Space Station

00:25on a private mission.

00:27And his name is Group Captain Shubhanshi Shukla.

00:32This Indian Air Force pilot is not just flying high, he's flying into history.

00:38He's part of the Exeum 4 mission, a 14-day journey aboard the SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft,

00:44launched by the Falcon 9 rocket straight to the International Space Station.

00:49Well, Shukla will fly alongside space legend Peggy Woodson from the US

00:53and astronauts from Poland and Hungary, making this a truly global crew.

00:58But this mission isn't just about travel, it's about discovery.

01:03India is sending 7 powerful experiments to the International Space Station,

01:07all designed by Indian scientists and carried out by Shukla himself in the microgravity of the space.

01:13So, let's understand what are these experiments.

01:19Growing Indian superfood in space.

01:21Yes, you heard that right.

01:23Moong and methi seeds will be grown aboard the International Space Station

01:27to study how plants survive and grow in zero gravity.

01:31A big step towards space farming for future missions.

01:34How microscopic life adapts in space.

01:37Indian scientists are sending microbeasts to study how they behave without gravity.

01:42important for astronauts' safety and future medicines.

01:46Muscle loss and recovery in space.

01:48Well, this is a very important part.

01:50Shukla will be taking part in experiments to see how muscles weaken in space and how to prevent it.

01:56Well, this matters more for long trips to the Moon or Mars.

02:00Screen time and mental health.

02:02How does screen use affect the brain in space?

02:05Ever thought of that before?

02:07Well, this NASA experiment will have Shukla tracking how long exposures to digital screens impact memory and focus.

02:16Cultivating Space Algae.

02:18You must be hearing this for the first time.

02:20A special kind of edible algae will be grown.

02:23Possibly the food of the future in the long-term space missions.

02:27Now, this is another most important thing that we are tracking and trying to understand how this is going to happen.

02:34Human cells in microgravity.

02:36Scientists will study how our cells react and grow in space.

02:41Helping us to understand the effects of space on human health.

02:44Tardigrades in space.

02:46Yes, the toughest creature on Earth.

02:48Tardigrades, aka water bears, will be sent to test how life survives in extreme space conditions.

02:55Let's understand one thing.

02:57These aren't just experiments.

02:59They are a stepping stone for India's space dreams.

03:03This is a test run for bigger plans.

03:05The Gaganyan human space flight.

03:08India's own space station by 2035.

03:10And even a crude moon mission by 2040.

03:15India is not just watching space.

03:17We're building our place in it.

03:19And this is where it gets even better.

03:22Shukla won't just be a scientist and astronaut.

03:25He will be a teacher.

03:26He will talk to students from space, answer their questions and show them that no dream is too big.

03:33Not even space.

03:34This mission is more than science.

03:41It's about teamwork.

03:42It's India, America, Hungary and Poland learning and exploring space together.

03:48Because the future of space doesn't belong to one country.

03:52It belongs to all of us.

03:53From Indian Air Force cockpits to the stars,

03:57Subhan Shushukla carries the hope of 1.4 billion Indians.

04:01And with him, India rises.

04:04Not just as a space-faring nation, but as a space innovator.

04:08So let's get ready for India in orbit,

04:11Science in action and dreams in motion.

Category

Transcript

Recommended