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Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla and his Ax-4 crewmates undock from the ISS aboard Dragon Grace for their return to Earth after 18 days in orbit.

Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla begins journey back to Earth after historic Axiom-4 mission to ISS

Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla and his Ax-4 crewmates undock from the ISS aboard Dragon Grace for their return to Earth after 18 days in orbit.

Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla and three international crewmates from the Axiom-4 mission have commenced their return journey to Earth after spending 18 days aboard the International Space Station (ISS).
The crew undocked aboard the Dragon Grace spacecraft, marking the start of their 22-hour descent back to Earth.
The spacecraft is expected to splash down off the coast of California at 3 PM IST on Tuesday.
Before departure, Commander Peggy Whitson, pilot Shubhanshu 'Shux' Shukla, and mission specialists Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski and Tibor Kapu were seen donning their flight suits and boarding the Dragon Grace capsule. The hatch connecting the spacecraft to the ISS was sealed at 2:37 PM, following which the crew conducted final system checks in preparation for reentry.
The mission was launched on June 25, when a SpaceX Falcon-9 rocket lifted off from Florida, carrying the Dragon capsule and the four-member crew to the orbiting space station. This mission marked a notable return to human spaceflight for India, Poland, and Hungary after a gap of over 40 years.
Shukla recalled the time when his icon Rakesh Sharma had travelled to space 41 years ago and described how India looked from there.
"We all are still curious to know how India looks today from above. Aaj ka Bharat mahatvakanshi dikhta hai. Aaj ka Bharat nidar dikhta hai, Aaj ka Bharat confident dikhta hai. Aaj ka Bharat garv se purn dikhta hai. (Today's India looks full of ambition, fearless, confident and full of pride)," Shukla said.
"It is because of all these reasons, I can say it once again that today's India still looks 'saare jahan se accha'," he said.
A formal farewell ceremony on the ISS on Sunday was marked by brief remarks by the Ax-4 crew, some of whom appeared to have got emotional as they hugged the members of the Expedition 73 with whom new friendships were forged during the stay.
"I didn't imagine all of this when I started on the Falcon-9 on June 25. I think it has been incredible because of the people involved. People standing behind me (the Expedition 73 crew), have made it really special for us. It was an incredible joy to be here and work alongside professionals like you," Shukla said.
The four astronauts are expected to spend seven days in rehabilitation as they adjust back to life on earth under the influence of gravity, unlike the weightlessness experienced in orbit.
It has been a historic trip for Shukla, who became the first Indian to travel to the ISS and only the second to travel to space after Sharma's pathbreaking spaceflight as part of the then Soviet Union's mission to Salyut-7 space station in 1984.
ISRO paid approximately Rs 550 crore for Shukla's travel to the ISS, an experience that will help the space agency in the planning and execution of its human spaceflight programme, Gaganyaan, set to take to orbit in 2027.

Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla and Axiom-4 crew to return from the ISS on July 14 after completing 230 orbits and 60+ scientific experiments.

Axiom-4 mission: Shubhanshu Shukla to return to earth on July 14, says NASA

Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla and Axiom-4 crew to return from the ISS on July 14 after completing 230 orbits and 60+ scientific experiments.

Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla and three other crew members of the Axiom-4 mission are set to return to earth from the International Space Station on July 14, NASA said on Thursday.
"We are working with the station program, watching the Axiom-4 progress carefully. I think we need to undock that mission and the current target to undock is July 14 after the high beta period," Steve Stitch, Manager, NASA Commercial Crew Program, told a press conference on the Crew-11 mission to the space station slated for July 31.
The Axiom-4 mission was launched from the Kennedy Space Centre at Florida on June 25 and the Dragon spacecraft docked at the International Space Station on June 26 after a 28-hour journey.
A "high beta period" for the space station refers to times when the angle between the ISS's orbital plane and the sun is high, typically above 70 degrees.
During these periods, the ISS experiences near-constant sunlight, as it spends a greater portion of each orbit in daylight. This can cause overheating and requires careful thermal management by NASA.
Shukla and his Axiom-4 crew have witnessed 230 sunrises onboard the International Space Station (ISS) and travelled nearly 100 lakh kms in space at the end of two weeks on the orbital laboratory.
The Axiom-4 crew, comprising Shukla, Peggy Whitson, Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski and Tibor Kapu, also took their final off-duty day on the ISS.
The Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) crew has completed close to 230 orbits around Earth and travelled more than six million miles (96.5 lakh kms), an Axiom Space statement said.
During his two-week stay on the space station, Shukla has interacted with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, spoke to scientists at ISRO, addressed school students in a live session and also connect to ISRO centres using HAM radio.
"From about 250 miles above the Earth, the crew spent their downtime capturing images and video, taking in the view of our home planet below, and reconnecting with loved ones," the statement said.
These moments offer a rare pause in an otherwise rigorous daily schedule, it said.
With over 60 experiments across biomedical science, advanced materials, neuroscience, agriculture, and space technology, the Ax-4 mission includes the most research conducted on an Axiom Space private astronaut mission to date.
These investigations could transform the future of human space exploration and life on Earth, with potential breakthroughs in areas such as diabetes management, innovative cancer treatments, and enhanced monitoring of human health and performance.
As the crew resumes their scientific duties, they continue to demonstrate how commercial missions contribute meaningfully to microgravity research and space exploration.
"Every test tube, data point, and observation brings us one step closer to a global community living and working in low-Earth orbit and, eventually, beyond," Axiom Space said.&nbsp;

ISRO has completed two successful hot tests of the Gaganyaan Service Module Propulsion System at Mahendragiri, validating key engine configurations ahead of India's first crewed space mission.

ISRO successfully conducts hot tests of Gaganyaan propulsion system

ISRO has completed two successful hot tests of the Gaganyaan Service Module Propulsion System at Mahendragiri, validating key engine configurations ahead of India's first crewed space mission.

ISRO has successfully condscucted two hot tests of the Gaganyaan Service Module Propulsion System (SMPS) at the space agency's Propulsion Complex in Mahendragiri on July 3.
The short-duration tests, lasting 30 seconds and 100 seconds respectively, were aimed at validating the test article configuration, ISRO said in a statement on Wednesday.
"The overall performance of the propulsion system during these hot tests was normal as per pre-test predictions. During the 100s test, simultaneous operation of all Reaction Control System (RCS) thrusters in different modes (steady state; pulsed) along with all Liquid Apogee Motor (LAM) engines was also successfully demonstrated.
"ISRO's Liquid Propulsion System Centre (LPSC) is leading the technology development activities for the Gaganyaan SMPS. SMPS is a critical system of Gaganyaan Orbital Module and is required during orbital manoeuvring as well as specific abort scenarios," the space agency said.
It comprises five Liquid Apogee Motor (LAM) engines (each 440N thrust) and 16 Reaction Control System (RCS) thrusters (each 100N thrust). In order to simulate the propulsion system conditions closer to flight, the SMPS test article for these hot tests incorporated improvements based on experience gained from earlier hot tests.
"With the confidence gained through these hot tests, ISRO will conduct a full duration hot test shortly," the statement said.
According to ISRO, the Gaganyaan programme aims to demonstrate India&rsquo;s capability to launch a crewed spacecraft into low Earth orbit, and the experience and knowledge gained from this mission will be crucial for its success.

India’s Shubhanshu Shukla begins his space journey aboard Axiom-4, launched by SpaceX's Falcon-9 from NASA's Kennedy Space Centre—marking a major leap in India's human spaceflight goals.

India's Shubhanshu Shukla lifts off on historic Axiom-4 mission aboard Falcon 9

India&rsquo;s Shubhanshu Shukla begins his space journey aboard Axiom-4, launched by SpaceX's Falcon-9 from NASA's Kennedy Space Centre&mdash;marking a major leap in India's human spaceflight goals.

&nbsp;India's Shubhanshu Shukla scripted history by embarking on a space odyssey along with three others to the International Space Station as part of a commercial mission by Axiom Space on Wednesday, 41 years after astronaut Rakesh Sharma's spaceflight onboard a Russian spacecraft.
SpaceX's Falcon-9 rocket blasted off from the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida at 12:01 pm IST carrying the astronauts of the Axiom-4 mission towards the ISS amid cheers from watch parties organised across the world, including at Shukla's City Montessori School in Lucknow where his parents witnessed the historic launch.
The astronauts began orbiting the Earth 10 minutes after the launch, prompting Shukla to announce India's return to human spaceflight after 41 years.
"Kamaal ki ride thi (It was a great ride)," Shukla said soon after the Dragon spacecraft was placed in orbit around the Earth at an altitude of 200 km. The spacecraft is expected to dock at the ISS at 4:30 pm on Thursday, capping a 28-hour journey.
The Lucknow-born Shukla, former NASA astronaut Mission Commander Peggy Whitson, Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski of Poland, and Tibor Kapu of Hungary are part of the Axiom-4 mission that marks the return to space for the three nations.
Shukla became the first Indian astronaut to travel to the International Space Station, a journey that comes 41 years after Rakesh Sharma's eight days in orbit as part of the then Soviet Union's Salyut-7 space station in 1984.
"Namaskar, my dear countrymen; we have reached space after 41 years. It was a great ride," Shukla said.
"We are orbiting Earth at a speed of 7.5 km per second, I have the Indian tricolour embossed on my shoulders that tells me that I am with all of you," he said in Hindi.
"It is not just the start of my journey to the ISS but also of India's human spaceflight. I want each one of you to be part of this journey, let us embark on India's human space programme together," Shukla said.
Once in orbit, the astronauts revealed the name they gave to their brand-new capsule &ndash; Grace.
"Good things come to those who wait. Godspeed to the maiden crew of Grace," SpaceX told the crew.
The astronauts will spend 14 days at the International Space Station and conduct 60 experiments during their mission.
In addition to science experiments, the astronauts are flying food that celebrates their heritage: Indian curry and rice with mango nectar; spicy Hungarian paprika paste; and freeze-fried Polish pierogies.
Before the flight, Shukla said that he hopes "to ignite the curiosity of an entire generation in my country" and drive innovation.
"I truly believe that even though I, as an individual, am travelling to space, this is the journey of 1.4 billion people," he said.
Shukla is expected to participate in several outreach events during his stay at the ISS and is also expected to interact with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Wing Commander Shubhanshu Shukla, selected as the pilot for Axiom Mission 4, will become India's second astronaut in space. 

 Wing Commander Shubhanshu Shukla named pilot for NASA's Axiom Mission 4 to ISS

Wing Commander Shubhanshu Shukla, selected as the pilot for Axiom Mission 4, will become India's second astronaut in space.&nbsp;

Wing Commander Shubhanshu Shukla, an Indian Air Force (IAF) officer recently selected as the 'Prime' astronaut for the Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) Gaganyaan mission, has now been named the pilot for Axiom Mission 4, scheduled for Spring 2025.&nbsp;
The Ax-4 mission will be led by former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, Axiom Space's Director of Human Spaceflight.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Meet the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Ax4?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Ax4</a> crew. 🇺🇸 Commander Peggy Whitson 🇮🇳 Mission Pilot Shubhanshu Shukla of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/India?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#India</a> 🇵🇱 Mission Specialist Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski of ESA/<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Poland?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Poland</a> 🇭🇺 Mission Specialist Tibor Kapu of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Hungary?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Hungary</a> <a href="https://t.co/Jjx8ERGqFf">pic.twitter.com/Jjx8ERGqFf</a>
&mdash; Axiom Space (@Axiom_Space) <a href="https://twitter.com/Axiom_Space/status/1884983916127264867?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 30, 2025</a></blockquote>
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Shukla will be joined by mission specialists Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski from Poland and Tibor Kapu from Hungary. This mission marks a significant milestone as it will be the first government-sponsored human spaceflight for India, Poland, and Hungary in over 40 years.
Shubhanshu Shukla will become India's second astronaut in space since 1984. His journey began in June 2006 when he was commissioned into the IAF's fighter wing.&nbsp;
As a seasoned combat leader and test pilot, Shukla has accumulated over 2,000 flight hours across various aircraft types, including the Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, MiG-29, Jaguar, Hawk, Dornier, and An-32.&nbsp;
His rise to the rank of Group Captain in March 2024 reflects his extraordinary contributions to the IAF. In 2019, Shukla received a transformative call from ISRO and embarked on intense training at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Moscow, preparing him for future space missions.
On February 27, 2024, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi officially announced Shukla as one of the astronauts undergoing intensive training for India's first-ever human spaceflight mission, Gaganyaan, scheduled for 2025.&nbsp;
By August 2024, Shukla had been selected as the 'Prime' astronaut for the upcoming Indo-US mission to the International Space Station (ISS), with Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair as his backup astronaut.&nbsp;
The Gaganyaan mission aims to demonstrate India's human spaceflight capabilities, with a crew of three astronauts orbiting at 400 km for three days before safely returning to Earth, landing in Indian sea waters.
India&rsquo;s space sector has seen remarkable advancements in recent years, especially with successful missions like Chandrayaan-3&rsquo;s lunar landing and the Aditya L1 Solar Mission. ISRO&rsquo;s Gaganyaan program has also been making significant progress, as has the agency&rsquo;s work on reusable launch vehicles, expanding satellite portfolios, and a commitment to building an Indian space station by 2035.&nbsp;
On January 29, 2024, ISRO successfully launched the GSLV-F15 carrying the NVS-02 satellite, marking the 100th launch from India&rsquo;s spaceport at Sriharikota.

ISRO has successfully completed its Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX), making India the fourth country to achieve satellite docking.

ISRO achieves historic satellite docking with SpaDeX mission

ISRO has successfully completed its Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX), making India the fourth country to achieve satellite docking. This milestone positions India for future space missions such as Chandrayaan-4 and the upcoming Bharatiya Antariksh Station.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Thursday successfully achieved satellite docking as part of its Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX).
"Docking Success Spacecraft docking successfully completed! A historic moment" ISRO proudly announced on 'X'.
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
SpaDeX Docking Update: 🌟Docking Success Spacecraft docking successfully completed! A historic moment. Let&rsquo;s walk through the SpaDeX docking process: Manoeuvre from 15m to 3m hold point completed. Docking initiated with precision, leading to successful spacecraft capture.&hellip;
&mdash; ISRO (@isro) <a href="https://twitter.com/isro/status/1879749119759311078?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 16, 2025</a></blockquote>
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Earlier, on January 12, ISRO had conducted a preliminary test, bringing the two spacecraft to a distance of three meters before moving them apart to a safe distance for further analysis.
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
SpaDeX Docking Update: Post docking, control of two satellites as a single object is successful. Undocking and power transfer checks to follow in coming days. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SPADEX?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SPADEX</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ISRO?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ISRO</a>
&mdash; ISRO (@isro) <a href="https://twitter.com/isro/status/1879754403306967291?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 16, 2025</a></blockquote>
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
A Historic Milestone for India
With this achievement, ISRO successfully docked two satellites in space under its SpaDeX mission, making India the fourth country, after the United States, Russia, and China, to demonstrate the ability to dock satellites.
Docking Completed After Delays
Although the docking process had been delayed earlier due to technical issues on January 7 and 9, ISRO was able to complete the docking on Thursday. The successful docking followed a trial on January 12, where the satellites were brought as close as 3 meters before safely moving apart for further assessment.
SpaDeX: A Key Technological Milestone
Launched on December 30 via PSLV, the SpaDeX mission involved two satellites, SDX01 (the Chaser) and SDX02 (the Target), each weighing 220 kg. The satellites were placed in low-Earth orbit, about 20 km apart, before gradually closing the gap for the final docking.
This docking experiment serves as a critical technological demonstration for future Indian missions, including:
<ul>
<li>Chandrayaan-4: A mission to return lunar samples to Earth, requiring a re-entry module to dock with a transfer module</li>
<li>Bharatiya Antariksh Station: India&rsquo;s proposed space station, set to launch in 2028 with modular components</li>
<li>Human Moon Mission: Set for 2040, which will require advanced docking technologies. </li>
</ul>
The successful docking took place during a pivotal moment for ISRO, as V. Narayanan took over as the new director of ISRO on January 14. Despite earlier challenges, ISRO&rsquo;s team showed remarkable resilience and technical expertise, ensuring the success of the mission.
This accomplishment represents a major step forward in India&rsquo;s space exploration ambitions, enabling future missions such as sample returns, space station assembly, and interplanetary exploration. With the successful completion of SpaDeX, ISRO continues to cement its position as a global leader in space technology.

ISRO achieves a key milestone with the successful launch of SpaDeX spacecraft, advancing India's ambitions in space docking and interplanetary missions.

 ISRO’s SpaDeX Mission Marks Breakthrough in Space Docking Technology

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chief S Somanath said the rocket has placed the satellites in the right orbit of 475 km circular orbit, after over 15 minutes of flight.

Two spacecraft that would aid ISRO in demonstrating space docking, a critical technology for future space missions, got separated successfully and were placed into the desired orbit late Monday, the country&rsquo;s space agency said.
"PSLV C60 mission accomplished as a SpaDeX spacecraft is considered," said Mission Director M Jayakumar.
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chief S Somanath said the rocket has placed the satellites in the right orbit of 475 km circular orbit, after over 15 minutes of flight.
"So, as far as we are concerned, the rocket has placed the spacecraft in the right orbit and the SpaDeX satellites have moved one behind the other, and over the period of time, it will pick up further distance, travel about 20 km away and then the rendezvous and docking process will start.
&ldquo;And we hope that the docking process can happen in another week and the nominal time is going to be approximately January 7," he said in his address from the Mission Control Centre.
In this mission, the very important part is the POEM-4 with 24 payloads from startups, industries, academia and also from ISRO centres, he said.
These are scheduled to be fired on Tuesday morning. Scientists would work through the night to ensure that the POEM-4 reaches the desired orbit level to perform the operation, Somanath said.
Later, talking to reporters at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Somanath said the PSLV-C60 mission placed the two SpaDeX satellites weighing 220kg in a circular orbit and 475 km as against the projected 470 km and this mission also has the POEM-4 which has 24 payloads to perform research and development.
"They are payloads and are not satellites. They are going to be attached to the fourth stage (of the PSLV rocket) for conducting experiments over the next two months. The upper stage of the PSLV rocket will be brought down to a lowered orbit to 350 km and that process is currently going on. After that, we will have many activities to continue," Somanath, also the Secretary, Department of Space, said.
On the Space Docking Experiment, he said the scientists would have many operations from December 31 at the ISTRAC Bengaluru and he expected that the docking condition 'possibly on January 7'.
&ldquo;So, we will be able to see that from the Control Centre, ISTRAC, Bengaluru. All those activities of docking, including telecasting of the onboard images from the camera of the docking processes,&rdquo; he said.
Somanath, flanked by SpaDeX Project Director N Surendran, Mission Director M Jayakumar and Directors of the various Centre said ISRO was &ldquo;very proud&rdquo; of this accomplishment and expressed hope that the SpaDeX mission's objective can be achieved in the coming days.
&ldquo;Really important mission for us, this you know, with the space sector reforms, and expansion of space activities. Then we have human space flight programmes, building space stations etc. This (Monday's) mission is so critical for us to work on future missions like the Chandrayaan-4, missions to the Moon as well,&rdquo; he said.
&ldquo;I believe this is not the first SpaDeX and there will be many more SpaDeX varieties including complex versions of docking systems in the coming days,&rdquo; he said.
Mission Director M Jayakumar said, &ldquo;Hearty congratulations to the team ISRO for venturing into the exciting domain of Space Docking and this Mission once again has POEM-4. We have 24 payloads, and some interesting experiments in POEM-4 like debris capture, and biological experiments are there.&rdquo;
&ldquo;We had two launches of the PSLV from the same launch pad that is the first launch pad in December. So, after the first launch (on December 5 for PSLV-C59/Proba-3 mission), the Satish Dhawan Space Centre team was quick in raising to the occasion (for Monday's mission),&rdquo; he said.
Surendran said, &ldquo;I would like to congratulate the PSLV team for the successive successful launch of PSLV in a month, it is a record, we have also placed our twin babies in a perfectly circular orbit, as per our requirement.
&ldquo;I am happy to say that our solar panels are successfully deployed and the spacecraft are on their journey and holding their wings towards the docking and it is expected to happen around January first week,&rdquo; he said.
As you are aware the space sector is going through a phase to enable private players to meet the growing demands, as per the policy guidelines, SpaDeX was assembled and integrated here for the first time, he said.
Dubbed as a prelude to the ISRO setting up its own Space Station by 2035, the PSLV-C60 mission would also make India join an elite club in achieving this feat which is expected to take place in the coming days.
The 44.5-metre-tall rocket carried two spacecraft -- Spacecraft A and B, each weighing 220 kg which would help in space docking, satellite servicing and interplanetary missions.
After the culmination of the 25-hour countdown which commenced on Sunday, the rocket lifted off at 10 pm from the First Launch Pad at this spaceport, emanating thick orange-coloured fumes and thunderous sound in the island, located about 135 km east of Chennai.
According to ISRO scientists, the two spacecraft-Spacecraft A (SDX01) or the 'Chaser' and Spacecraft B (SDX02) or the 'Target' would be merged together later at an altitude of about 470 km after travelling at the same speed and distance.
By mastering the docking technologies, ISRO is set to enhance its operational flexibility and also expand its mission horizons.
This technology is essential for some of India's space ambitions like Indian on the Moon, getting samples from the Moon (Chandrayaan-4 mission), and building and operating the Bharatiya Antariksh Station.
"In-space docking technology is essential when multiple rocket launches are required to achieve common mission objectives. Through this mission, India is marching towards becoming the fourth country in the world to have space docking technology," ISRO said.
The others to achieve this technological feat are China, Russia and the US.

A 2024 climate report highlights a surge in extreme heat, with 41 additional hot days globally and devastating impacts on vulnerable regions. The study emphasizes urgent action against fossil fuels to curb rising temperatures.

2024: The Warmest Year on Record with Alarming Heatwaves

The floods in Sudan, Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon, and Chad were the deadliest event studied by the group, with at least 2,000 people killed.

The world experienced an average of 41 more days of extreme heat in 2024 due to climate change, a new report said on Friday.
According to the European climate agency Copernicus, 2024 is set to end as the warmest year on record and the first year with a global average temperature 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.
A yearly review report by two groups of climate scientists -- World Weather Attribution (WWA) and Climate Central -- said the world saw an average of 41 more days of dangerous heat in 2024.
Small island developing states were hit the hardest, with their people experiencing over 130 additional hot days.
The scientists identified 219 extreme weather events in 2024 and studied 29 of them. They found that climate change contributed to at least 3,700 deaths and displaced millions in 26 extreme weather events.
"It is likely the total number of people killed in extreme weather events intensified by climate change this year is in the tens or hundreds of thousands," the report said.
The floods in Sudan, Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon, and Chad were the deadliest event studied by the group, with at least 2,000 people killed.
The study found that if global warming reached two degrees Celsius, which could happen as early as the 2040s or 2050s, these regions might face similar heavy rainfall events every year.
Friederike Otto, lead of WWA and senior lecturer in climate science at the Imperial College, London, said, "The impacts of fossil fuel warming have never been clearer or more devastating than in 2024. We are living in a dangerous new era."
"We know exactly what we need to do to stop things from getting worse -- stop burning fossil fuels. The top resolution for 2025 must be transitioning away from fossil fuels, which will make the world a safer and more stable place," he added.
The year 2024 is expected to end with a global average temperature at least 1.55 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, according to Copernicus.
However, a permanent breach of the 1.5-degree Celsius limit specified in the Paris Agreement refers to long-term warming over a 20- or 30-year period.
That said, experts feel that the world is now entering a phase where temperatures will be consistently above this threshold.
The average global temperature has already risen by 1.3 degrees Celsius compared to the 1850-1900 average, driven by the rapid buildup of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane in the atmosphere.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the UN body for assessing the science related to climate change, says global emissions must peak by 2025 and reduce by 43 per cent by 2030 and 57 per cent by 2035 compared to 2019 levels to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
However, according to the latest UN data, current policies will take global warming to around 3 degrees Celsius by 2100.
Even the full implementation of all Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) or national climate plans will likely lead to just a 5.9 per cent emission reduction by 2030 compared to 2019 levels, according to the synthesis report of countries' NDCs.
Fossil fuels -- coal, oil, and gas -- are the largest contributors to climate change, accounting for over 75 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions and nearly 90 per cent of all carbon dioxide emissions.
However, the world is struggling to transition away from fossil fuels rapidly enough to prevent breaching the 1.5-degree Celsius goal due to a combination of political, economic, technological, and social challenges.
The transition to clean energy sources is particularly difficult for poor countries in the Global South due to dependence on fossil fuels for jobs and cheap energy, lack of funding and technology, weak power grids, and limited expertise.

A broken heart can be a medical condition called broken heart syndrome which lasts for a short duration. Know more about it. 

Experts explain the science behind heartbreaks being painful

A broken heart can be a medical condition called broken heart syndrome&nbsp;which lasts for a short duration. Know more about it.&nbsp;

Breakups hurt the most and now we know the scientific reason behind it.
According to the report published by Live Science, people often go through a lot of emotions while dealing with sudden demise of a loved ones or falling out of love.&nbsp;
Experts explain that when someone falls in love there's a natural outpouring of the cuddle hormone called oxytocin and the feel-good hormone dopamine.
And when someone suddenly falls out of love the levels of these hormones drop resulting in increase of the stress hormone cortisol which can cause weight gain, anxiety and high blood pressure.&nbsp;
As per the report, in a few cases, pain due to a broken heart can be a medical condition called broken heart syndrome which lasts for a short duration.&nbsp;
Also watch: <a href="https://www.editorji.com/lifestyle-news/health/survey-finds-the-reason-behind-sudden-surge-in-heart-attacks-among-young-indians-1671092274650">Survey finds the reason behind sudden surge in heart attacks among young Indians</a>

Science

ISRO Chairman V Narayanan confirms plans to land Indians on the Moon by 2040, launch the Gaganyaan human space mission by 2027, and build a national space station by 2035, with major lunar, Mars, and Venus missions underway.

Crewed Moon mission by 2040; maiden human spaceflight to launch in 2027: ISRO chief Narayanan

ISRO Chairman V Narayanan confirms plans to land Indians on the Moon by 2040, launch the Gaganyaan human space mission by 2027, and build a national space station by 2035, with major lunar, Mars, and Venus missions underway.

ISRO chairman V Narayanan on Wednesday said the space agency has set a target of landing Indians on the Moon by 2040, while its maiden human spaceflight mission 'Gaganyaan' is on track for launch in 2027.
Narayanan said a slew of ambitious space projects and sector reforms were currently underway, including a national space station by 2035, and three uncrewed 'Gaganyaan' missions by 2026, with the first one that includes a half-humanoid robot 'Vyommitra', targeted for December 2025.
"Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given a guideline for an indigenous crewed lunar mission by 2040, under which we have to land our own citizens on the moon and bring them back safely. A Venus Orbiter Mission (VOM) has also been approved to study the planet," Narayanan said in an exclusive interview with PTI.
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chief said the Bharatiya Antriksh Station (BAS) is expected to come up by 2035, and initial modules in space are expected as early as 2027.
He was here to attend the 35th convocation ceremony of Ranchi-based Birla Institute of Technology (BIT) Mesra as the chief guest.
"There are a lot of developments in 'Gaganyaan'. We are planning some more experiments. Before the crewed mission, we are planning three uncrewed missions. 'Vyommitra' is going to fly on that in December this year. Two more uncrewed missions will take place next year. Crewed 'Gaganyaan' mission would be possible by 2027 first quarter," Narayanan added.
With Modi defining a clear roadmap and rolling out reforms for the space sector, ISRO is moving with confidence and clarity towards realising the dream of a self-reliant and vibrant space ecosystem, he said.
He said India&rsquo;s upcoming projects include Chandrayaan-4 and Chandrayaan-5, a new Mars mission, and AXOM, a high-priority astronomical observatory mission.
"The Aditya-L1 mission has already yielded over 15 terabits of solar data, with valuable insights into coronal mass ejections and space weather," Narayanan added.
"We are open to international collaborations," he said, emphasising that while India is committed to self-reliance, climate science and space research, which are global concerns, "how and where we collaborate will be debated and decided based on scientific and strategic priorities." Highlighting the role of reforms, Narayanan said the space sector has been transformed through the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe), which integrates startups and private players into the national ecosystem.
"Just a few years ago, there were barely one or two startups in the space sector. Today, there are over 300 working on satellite manufacturing, launch services, and space-based data analytics," he said.
"This shift is seen as crucial to meeting India's rising demand for satellite-based applications in agriculture, disaster management, telecommunication, real-time train and vehicle monitoring, and fisheries," he added.
For missions like crewed lunar landing, India needs to enhance its launch capacity and space infrastructure and has already started work to build its space station.
"From launching 35 kg initially to now envisioning 80,000 kg &mdash; that is the scale of transformation we are aiming for," he said.
Talking about Artificial Intelligence (AI), Robotics, and Big Data, he said these are becoming integral to space missions.
"Just like no one imagined the computer revolution 35 years ago, AI and robotics will define the next era of space exploration," the scientist remarked.
He said today India stands as the world's fourth-largest economy, with a burgeoning space sector that is not only matching, but often surpassing global benchmarks.
"From discovering water on the Moon with Chandrayaan-1, to the first soft landing near the lunar south pole with Chandrayaan-3, India has set multiple world records in space. Today, we are No. 1 in nine areas globally," he asserted.
The ISRO chief added that India has become the fourth country to successfully achieve docking and undocking in space with the success of SPADEX mission.
"We also completed the 100th launch from Sriharikota &mdash; the GSLV F15/NVS-02 Mission &mdash; and received final approval for a third launch pad catering to all launch vehicles, including the next-generation NGLV, at an estimated cost of Rs 4,000 crore," Narayanan said.
On Atomic energy, he said, currently India has 23 nuclear reactors across eight major nuclear plants, including Tarapur and Bhabha Atomic Research Centre.
Narayanan took charge as ISRO Chairman in January 2025. He earlier served as director of the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC), one of ISRO&rsquo;s key facilities.

ISRO and NASA successfully launch $1.5 billion NISAR satellite aboard GSLV F-16, marking their first joint Earth observation mission into Sun Synchronous Polar Orbit.

Indo-US space collaboration takes flight with NISAR satellite success

ISRO and NASA successfully launch $1.5 billion NISAR satellite aboard GSLV F-16, marking their first joint Earth observation mission into Sun Synchronous Polar Orbit.

India and the US on Wednesday marked their maiden space collaboration with the successful flight of a GSLV rocket that placed an earth observation satellite, jointly developed by ISRO and NASA, in a precise orbit in what was described as an "outstanding success" by the Indian space agency.
ISRO's GSLV F-16 injected NISAR--NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar satellite, into the intended Sun Synchronous Polar Orbit (SSPO), after a flight of about 19 minutes and around 745 km, marking the culmination of a decade-long cooperation between the top two space agencies of the world.
"I am extremely happy to announce that GSLV F-16 successfully injected the NISAR satellite into intended orbit," ISRO Chairman V Narayanan said about the 102nd launch from here.
Reportedly, Wednesday's mission was the world's most expensive at an estimated USD 1.5 bn. Also, this was the first GSLV mission to the SSPO and till date, all the GSLV missions have been going to Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO).
"And being the SSPO mission, several analyses and studies were carried out to make this mission a grand success." Cryogenic upper stage corrections and a host of mission simulations were carried out very systematically and meticulously, Narayanan added.
"All the vehicle system performances were quite normal as expected and as predicted. Today, we achieved the intended orbit. Actually we have got an orbit with a dispersion (deviation from desired orbit) of less than 3 km as against the permissible level of 20 km...all parameters are as expected," he said.
"NISAR is an all-weather day and night imaging satellite that will scan the entire earth at a 12 day interval. The satellite integrates ISRO's S-band synthetic aperture radar with NASA's L-band SAR payload and 12 metre unfurlable antenna to become a first of its kind dual frequency SAR satellite," Narayanan, also Secretary, Department of Space, added.
Deputy Associate Administrator at NASA, Casey Swails said it was an incredible decade culminating in this moment from the technical collaborations, the cultural understandings, getting to know each other building that team across continents, time zones.
"This mission is truly a pathfinder, not just in regards to our technical collaborations because those are truly incredible but earth science mission is one of a kind which really shows the world what the two nations can do. But more than that it is really a pathfinder for the relationship building across our two nations, across India and the United States building upon decades of collaborations that already existed," she added.
Earlier, at the end of the 27.30 hour countdown, the 51.7 metre tall launch vehicle carrying the 2,393 kg satellite majestically lifted-off from the second launch pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, here, situated about 135 km east of Chennai at a prefixed time of 5.40 pm.
Post the separation from the rocket, the scientists would embark on commissioning the satellite which would take "several days" to be positioned and meet the mission objectives.
According to ISRO, the S-band Radar system, data handling and high-speed downlink system, the spacecraft and the launch system are developed by the national space agency. The L-band Radar system, high speed downlink system, the Solid State Recorder, GPS receiver, the 9m Boom hoisting the 12m reflector are delivered by US-based National Aeronautics Space Administration (NASA).
"Further, ISRO is responsible for the satellite commanding and operations. NASA will provide the orbit maneuver plan and RADAR operations plan. NISAR mission will be aided with ground station support of both ISRO and NASA for downloading of the acquired images, which after the necessary processing will be disseminated to the user community," it said.
The data acquired through S-band and L-band SAR from a single platform will help the scientists to understand the changes happening to Earth.
According to ISRO, the NISAR mission's primary objectives are to study land and ice deformation, land ecosystems, and oceanic regions in areas of common interest to the US and Indian scientific communities.
The mission would help in measuring the woody biomass, track changes in the extent of active crops, understand the changes in wetlands extent among others.
The mission life of NISAR is 5 year.
NASA said the data from NISAR mission would provide critical insights to help governments and decision-makers plan for natural and human-caused hazards. NISAR can help with hazard-monitoring efforts and potentially give decision- makers more time to prepare for a possible disaster.
The RADAR satellite would provide a 3D view of the Earth's land and ice and through its ability to see through clouds and light rain, day and night, the satellite would enable data users to continuously monitor earthquake and landslide prone areas and determine how quickly glaciers and ice sheets are changing.
The data collected from the satellite would also offer an 'unprecedented coverage of Antarctica, an information that would help with studying how the continent's ice sheet changes over time.
The NISAR mission would help the two space agencies to monitor ecosystems around the world and the L band penetrates deep into forest canopies, providing insights into forest structure, while the S-band radar is monitoring crops.

The ISRO-NASA NISAR satellite, designed to study Earth’s land, ice, and ocean dynamics, is scheduled for launch today aboard GSLV-F16 from Sriharikota.

NASA-ISRO collaborative satellite NISAR all set for launch

The ISRO-NASA NISAR satellite, designed to study Earth&rsquo;s land, ice, and ocean dynamics, is scheduled for launch today aboard GSLV-F16 from Sriharikota.

Aimed at boosting ties between India and the United States on space exploration, India is geared up to launch an earth observation satellite jointly developed by ISRO and NASA on Wednesday.
Eyeing to study the planet Earth as a whole from a Sun-synchronous Orbit, the NISAR satellite is a combination of human skills and exchange of software and hardware between the two space agencies for over a decade.
NISAR, an acronym for NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar satellite, weighing 2,393 kg is expected to fly on a 51.7 metre tall, three stage, GSLV-F16 rocket at a prefixed time of 5.40 pm from the second launch pad at this spaceport situated about 135 km from Chennai on Wednesday.
The countdown for the launch commenced at 2.10 pm on July 29 and has been progressing, ISRO said, and the mission would be classified into launch phase, deployment phase, commissioning phase and science phase.
"GSLV-F16/NISAR Today&rsquo;s the day! Launch Day has arrived for GSLV-F16 and NISAR. GSLV-F16 is standing tall on the launch pad. NISAR is ready. Liftoff today," ISRO said in a social media post on Wednesday.
While the partnership between ISRO and NASA is first of its kind, it is also the first time for a GSLV rocket to carry a rocket destined to Sun-synchronous Polar Orbit (SSPO) unlike Polar Satellite Launch Vehicles.
The Bengaluru-headquartered ISRO has sent similar missions in the past (Resourcesat, RISAT) to study the Earth but were "operationally focused" on Indian territory. The NISAR mission is targeted to study the Earth and would provide information to global scientific fraternity, ISRO said.
The satellite would be able to study seasonal changes on forest dynamics, mountain shifts, glacier movements in the Himalayas and Antarctica, North and South poles.
NISAR mission's primary objectives are to study land and ice deformation, land ecosystems, and oceanic regions in areas of common interest to the United States and Indian science communities.
ISRO said the complex payloads and mainframe systems in the mission have been designed, developed, and realised over a period of 8 to 10 years.
Scientists from both space agencies were involved in extensive collaborations and the NISAR satellite carries dual frequency -- two L Band provided by NASA and S-Band provided by ISRO for the Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) enabling the collection of a vast amount of data.
The S-Band SAR and L-Band SAR were independently developed, integrated and tested at ISRO and Jet Propulsion Laboratory, NASA, United States, respectively, ISRO said.
After reaching the initial orbital conditions on Wednesday, scientists would engage in 'commissioning' the satellite.
The first 90 days after launch would be dedicated to commissioning or to perform In-Orbit Checkout, the objective of which is to prepare the observatory for science operations, ISRO said.
The dual-band Synthetic Aperture Radar employs an advanced, SweepSAR technique, which provides high resolution and large swath imagery. NISAR would image the global land and ice-covered surfaces, including islands, sea-ice and oceans, every 12 days.
The spacecraft and the launch system are developed by ISRO while the L-band Radar system, high speed downlink system, GPS receiver are delivered by NASA. ISRO is responsible for the satellite and commanding operations, while NASA would provide the orbit manoeuver and RADAR operations plan.
NISAR mission would be aided with ground station support of both the two space agencies for downloading the acquired images, which, after the necessary processing, would be disseminated to the user community.
GSLV-F16 is the 18th flight of Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle and the 12th with indigenous cryogenic stage. It is also the 102nd launch from Sriharikota.
The life of the NISAR Mission is 5 years, ISRO said.

Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla’s 18-day mission aboard the ISS concludes with a safe return, marking a historic step in India’s human space journey.

Shubhanshu Shukla returns to Earth

Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla&rsquo;s 18-day mission aboard the ISS concludes with a safe return, marking a historic step in India&rsquo;s human space journey.

As the Dragon spacecraft carrying astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla returned to Earth after an 18-day stay aboard the International Space Station (ISS), it carried with it more than just scientific data and seed samples, it brought home a story of grit, dreams, and India's growing space ambitions.
Group Captain Shukla, a 39-year-old Indian Air Force officer and test pilot, completed his maiden space voyage as part of the Axiom-4 mission, a commercial spaceflight supported by ISRO and NASA, and operated by Axiom Space.
The journey marked a milestone for India: Shukla is the first Indian to step aboard the ISS and only the second Indian to go into space, following Rakesh Sharma's iconic flight in 1984.
Born on October 10, 1985&mdash;just a year after Sharma's spaceflight&mdash;Shukla grew up in Lucknow in a middle-class family with no direct links to aviation or space. But a childhood visit to an airshow lit a spark.
"As a child, he had once been to an air show and was fascinated by the speed and sound of the aircraft. That's when he first spoke about flying," his elder sister Suchi Shukla said. "But of course, there was no telling at the time how quickly he would embrace his dream."
Educated at City Montessori School (CMS), Shukla's journey to the stars was anything but scripted. In a stroke of destiny, a classmate applying to the National Defence Academy (NDA) realised he was overage and passed on the form to Shukla.
He was commissioned into the Indian Air Force in 2006 and went on to become a decorated test pilot with over 2,000 hours of flying time on advanced fighter aircraft such as the Su-30 MKI, MiG-29, Jaguar, and Dornier-228. He later earned an MTech in Aerospace Engineering from the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru.
Last year, he was chosen as one of four astronauts in India's Gaganyaan programme, alongside Prasanth Balkrishnan Nair, Angad Pratap, and Ajit Krishnan.
The quartet underwent intensive training in Russia's Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre and ISRO's Astronaut Training Facility in Bengaluru. But before Gaganyaan's scheduled launch in 2027, Shukla got the opportunity to fly as part of the Ax-4 crew&mdash;an Indian was part of a human spaceflight mission after 41 years.
After several postponements, Shukla finally launched from the Kennedy Space Center on June 25, aboard the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. Ten minutes into the mission, the Dragon capsule entered orbit, prompting Shukla to declare in Hindi, "Kamaal ki ride thi" ("It was a great ride") and share his sense of national pride: "I have the Indian tricolour embossed on my shoulders that tells me I am with all of you."
Nicknamed "Shux" and known for his composed demeanour, Shukla carried Indian delicacies to space, including gajar ka halwa and moong dal ka halwa, so his international crewmates could get a taste of home.
His launch-day song "Yun Hi Chala Chal" from the Shah Rukh Khan film Swades turned out to be a fitting choice for an astronaut on a mission about discovery, identity, and the journey home.
On board the ISS, Shukla was the pilot on the Axiom-4 mission, alongside commander Peggy Whitson and mission specialists Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski of Poland and Tibor Kapu of Hungary. Together, they not only conducted science experiments but also engaged in outreach to students and space communities across the globe.
Shukla conducted seven India-led microgravity experiments across diverse domains of life sciences, agriculture, space biotechnology, and cognitive research.
"I am so proud that ISRO has been able to collaborate with national institutions all over the country and come up with some fantastic research, which I am doing here on the station," Shukla said during an interaction with Axiom's chief scientist Lucie Low.
A highlight was the plant germination experiment led by scientists Ravikumar Hosamani (University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad) and Sudheer Siddapureddy (IIT Dharwad). Shukla planted moong and methi seeds in petri dishes and captured their sprouting progress, inserting them into cold storage for later analysis back on Earth.
The goal is to study how microgravity influences plant growth, microbial interactions, and genetic expression, which are key insights for long-term space farming.
In another project, he worked with cyanobacteria and microalgae, which are organisms being explored for their ability to produce food, oxygen, and biofuels in space. These tiny life forms may hold the key to sustainable life-support systems during deep space missions.
He also participated in stem cell research, exploring whether supplements can aid in injury repair and tissue regeneration in space. "It's been great to work in the Glove Box doing this research. I feel proud to be a bridge between scientists on Earth and the station," Shukla said.
One of his lighter experiments was a zero-gravity demonstration involving water.
Shukla created a floating water bubble and joked, "I've become a water bender here on the station," as his commander used a plastic bag to show how surface tension manipulates light in space like a lens.
As the mission neared completion, Shukla and his Ax-4 crewmates joined astronauts of Expedition 73, a long-duration mission, for a farewell ceremony on July 13. In his remarks, he thanked the ISS crew and ISRO for its support in developing a research portfolio and an outreach programme for students and STEM communities in India.
Shukla interacted with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, school students, and also connected with ISRO centres using amateur radio. "It's not just my journey, it's India's," he said.
"From a curious young learner in our classrooms to a pioneering astronaut, Shux's story beautifully encapsulates our mission of 'Education for World Unity and Peace'," said Geeta Gandhi Kingdon, a student at CMS, Lucknow, during the watch party the school had organised for the launch of the mission.
Shukla's mission ends with Dragon 'Grace' spacecraft's splash down near the California coast on Tuesday but his story will continue.
With Gaganyaan on the horizon and new avenues in space research opening up, his experience is expected to be instrumental in shaping India's human spaceflight programme.
In Shukla's own words from the station: "I want each one of you to be part of this journey. Let us embark on India's human space programme together."

Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla successfully completes all microgravity experiments on the ISS under the Axiom-4 mission and begins return journey to Earth.

Shubhanshu Shukla completes 7 experiments on ISS: ISRO

Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla successfully completes all microgravity experiments on the ISS under the Axiom-4 mission and begins return journey to Earth.

Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla has successfully completed all seven microgravity experiments and other planned activities, achieving a significant milestone in the Axiom-4 mission, ISRO said on Monday.
It said that experiments on the Indian strain of Tardigrades, Myogenesis, Sprouting of methi and moong seeds, Cyanobacteria, Microalgae, Crop seeds and Voyager Display have been completed as planned.
On July 13, 2025, the Expedition 73 Crew members onboard International Space Station (ISS) joined Axiom-4 crew members, including ISRO's Gaganyatri, for a farewell ceremony ahead of the departure of the Axiom-4 mission crew from ISS.
"Gaganyatri Shubhanshu Shukla, while speaking at the farewell ceremony, thanked Expedition 73 crew members for their support along with team ISRO for developing a scientific research portfolio, associated protocols as well as designing student outreach activities with national participation," ISRO said.
Shukla and three other astronauts of the Axiom-4 mission began their return journey to Earth on Monday as the Dragon Grace spacecraft undocked from the International Space Station after an 18-day stay.
Following a series of orbital manoeuvres after undocking, the Dragon spacecraft is expected to splash down near the coast of California on Tuesday at 3.01 pm IST.
Satcom Industry Association-India Director General Anil Prakash said Shukla's 18-day mission aboard the ISS isn't just a milestone; it heralds India's leap into the space-biotech frontier.
"This mission, made possible through strategic private-sector engagement, showcases a powerful public-private partnership, transforming space research into sustainable biotech innovation," Prakash said.
"SIA-India applauds this collaborative breakthrough in propelling India from space exploration to global space-driven biotech leadership," Prakash said.
During his stay at the ISS, Shukla interacted with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, school students, and also connected with ISRO centres using amateur radio.

Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla led key zero-gravity experiments aboard ISS, including seed germination, microalgae deployment, and stem cell studies.

Shubhanshu Shukla showcases zero-gravity experiment aboard ISS

Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla led key zero-gravity experiments aboard ISS, including seed germination, microalgae deployment, and stem cell studies.

Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, the Axiom-4 mission pilot, has showcased a zero-gravity experiment aboard the International Space Station (ISS) involving water to illustrate how microgravity transforms everyday physics.
The experiment, part of Axiom Space's outreach and scientific mission, highlighted the unique behaviour of water in space.
After an 18-day stay at the ISS, Shukla and three others -- commander Peggy Whitson and mission specialists Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski of Poland and Tibor Kapu of Hungary -- of the commercial Axiom-4 mission set off on a return journey to Earth on Monday evening.
Using surface tension to their advantage, Shukla formed a floating water bubble.
"I've become a water bender here in the station," he joked.
Another astronaut, Whitson, further went on to press a plastic bag gently into the sphere, demonstrating how surface tension behaves like a magnet in microgravity by clinging to the object and distorting light like a lens.
The astronauts also spoke about the opportunity not just to engage in science but also to communicate the wonder and beauty of Earth from space.
"I try to savour every moment I get -- just sitting by the window and looking down. It's the most beautiful view I've seen," Shukla said onboard the ISS.
Whitson explained that the crew is nearing the end of their two-week mission, during which they've balanced rigorous scientific research with education and public engagement.
Their mission has also included outreach to students and STEM communities around the globe, including in India, Hungary, and Poland.
Asked about re-entering Earth's gravity, Whitson was frank: "From me having experienced it, I know first person -- it sucks. Gravity really does." Shukla, on his maiden spaceflight, said he hopes to handle the descent better than his ascent, which involved some space motion sickness.
In the final leg of his space sojourn, Shukla turned into a farmer, taking photos of 'moong' and 'methi' seeds sprouting in petri dishes and inserting them into a storage freezer on the International Space Station (ISS) as part of a study on how microgravity influences germination and early plant development.
"I am so proud that ISRO has been able to collaborate with national institutions all over the country and come up with some fantastic research which I am doing on the station for all the scientists and researchers. It is exciting and a joy to do this," Shukla said in an interaction with Axiom Space Chief Scientist Lucie Low on June 9.
The sprouts experiment is led by two scientists -- Ravikumar Hosamani of the University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad and Sudheer Siddapureddy of the Indian Institute of Technology, Dharwad.
Once returned to Earth, the seeds will be cultivated over several generations to examine changes in their genetics, microbial ecosystems and nutritional profiles, a statement from Axiom Space said.
In another experiment, Shukla deployed and stowed microalgae, which are being investigated for their potential to produce food, oxygen and even biofuels. Their resilience and versatility make them ideal for supporting human life on long-duration missions.
Shukla also captured images for the crop seeds experiment, where six varieties will be grown over multiple generations post-mission. The goal is to identify plants with desirable traits for genetic analysis for sustainable farming in space.
Shukla said his research tasks on the space station spanned various domains and disciplines.
"Right from doing stem cell research and looking at the effect of microgravity on seeds, evaluating the cognitive load on astronauts while they are interacting with screens onboard the station. It has been fantastic. I feel proud to be this kind of a bridge between the researchers and the station and do the research on behalf of them," he said last week.
"One particular research I am really excited about is stem cell research where scientists are trying to explore whether it is possible to accelerate recovery or growth or repair injury by adding supplements to stem cells. It has been great to work in the Glove Box doing this research for them. I am really excited to be doing this," Shukla said.
Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh on Monday said the experiments carried out by Shukla related to life sciences and other fields were supported by indigenous kits.
"As the Prime Minister says 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' - the world is one family - the benefits of all these experiments done by an Indian using indigenous kits will benefit the entire world," Singh told reporters on the sidelines of a consultative meeting on ease of doing research and development held at IIT Jammu.
"The most important point is that the experiments conducted by Shubhanshu used kits provided by the Institute of Biotechnology and the Indian Institute of Science and IIT.
"This means we used indigenous kits, conducted indigenous experiments, and had an Indian astronaut carrying them out. These are experiments whose benefits will also be shared with other countries," he said.
He said the experiments carried out in space were based on concepts that had not been imagined until now, and Shubhanshu Shukla is the first Indian to have conducted them.
"In life sciences, one of the experiments involved studying the effect of space on muscles, since in space, muscle dysfunction and wasting occur, and how that can be prevented.
"Another experiment examined the cognitive effects of using gadgets over the long term in space, and what kind of impact this could have on the heart and brain, and how those effects can be mitigated," he said.&nbsp;

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