About Axiom-4 mission:
- Axiom-4, a US-based space mission, will carry India’s Shubhanshu Shukla and three other astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS).
- Several experiments designed by ISRO will be conducted aboard Axiom-4 to support India’s upcoming Gaganyaan manned spaceflight (planned two years later).
- ISRO has planned 7 key experiments for this mission, focusing on:
- Human health impacts in microgravity
- Growth of crops in space environments
- One major experiment involves cyanobacteria, studying its:
- Growth rate, cellular response, and biochemical activity
- Potential for oxygen production and support for long-term human space presence without Earth resupply
- The mission will provide hands-on space experience to Indian astronauts, helping them work in microgravity and perform collaborative experiments.
- The mission is expected to launch in the first week of June 2025 (final date yet to be confirmed).
- All efforts and learnings from Axiom-4 are intended to directly feed into India’s Gaganyaan programme.
Why in News?
- The US Axiom-4 space mission, carrying India’s Shubhanshu Shukla, will conduct experiments to aid ISRO’s Gaganyaan manned spaceflight planned two years later, ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan said.

