4 of 7 microgravity tests done, Shubhanshu Shukla may undock on Tuesday

BENGALURU: Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla , expected to undock from the International Space Station (ISS) at 4.35pm on July 14, has completed four of the seven Isro-led microgravity experiments. Shukla, who is part of the Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission, is working on the other three that are nearing completion, Isro confirmed.

The completed experiments are - Tardigrades (Bengaluru strain): focusing on survival, revival, reproduction, and transcriptomic changes in microgravity; Myogenesis: studying the effect of space on human muscle cell development; Sprouting of methi and moong seeds: with implications for in-orbit nutrition and food sustainability, and Cyanobacteria: tracking the growth of two variants for potential use in closed-loop life support systems.

"These experiments are now being packed for their return to Earth for further analysis," Isro said.

The three experiments nearing completion are - Microalgae: investigating its viability and applications in space; Crop seeds: studying growth responses to spaceflight conditions; and Voyager display: details of which remain undisclosed but are part of the scientific payload.