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