India to conduct first space biology experiments on ISS under BioE3 policy
Dr Jitendra Singh announced on 15 May 2025 that India will conduct its first biological experiments aboard the International Space Station during the Axiom-4 mission, with Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla as a crew member, under the BioE3 policy.
Summary
Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh announced on 15 May 2025 that India will conduct its first biological experiments aboard the International Space Station (ISS), as part of the upcoming Axiom-4 mission with Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla as a crew member, under the BioE3 biotechnology policy. Led by ISRO with the Department of Biotechnology, the first experiment will study the effect of microgravity and space radiation on edible microalgae as a source of space nutrition; it is a joint initiative of ISRO, NASA and DBT. The second will study growth and proteomic responses of cyanobacteria such as Spirulina and Synechococcus in urea- and nitrate-based media. The experiments were developed with scientists of ICGEB, New Delhi.
Key facts
- Mission
- Axiom-4 to the ISS
- Indian crew member
- Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla
- Policy
- BioE3
- Experiment 1
- Edible microalgae under microgravity and space radiation (ISRO–NASA–DBT)
- Experiment 2
- Cyanobacteria (Spirulina, Synechococcus) in urea vs nitrate media
- Partners
- ISRO, DBT, ICGEB New Delhi
Practice MCQs 2 questions
The first Indian biological experiment planned aboard the ISS, announced in May 2025, will study the effect of microgravity on:
Show answer
Correct answer: B — Edible microalgae
The first experiment will examine the impact of microgravity and space radiation on edible microalgae as a sustainable space nutrition source.
Consider the following statements about India's planned space biology experiments (announced May 2025): 1. They will be carried out aboard ISRO's Gaganyaan G1 mission. 2. The second experiment will compare growth of cyanobacteria such as Spirulina in urea- and nitrate-based media. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — 2 only
Only statement 2 is correct. The experiments are part of the Axiom-4 mission to the International Space Station, with Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla as a crew member.