Indian Astronaut to Study Rare Bacteria for Gaganyaan Life Support in Space

In a significant leap for India's space ambitions, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the selected astronaut for ISRO’s Gaganyaan mission, is set to conduct a path-breaking experiment aboard the International Space Station (ISS) in May 2025. The 14-day mission, part of the Axiom Mission-4 (Ax-4) collaboration with NASA and ESA, will focus on the behavior of cyanobacteria in microgravity—a study essential for developing sustainable life support systems in space.

Why Cyanobacteria?

Cyanobacteria are photosynthetic microorganisms capable of producing oxygen from carbon dioxide using light—making them ideal candidates for closed-loop life support systems in spacecraft. These systems are vital for long-duration space missions where resupply is impossible.

Shukla will examine two strains of these bacteria—Chroococcidiopsis and another cyanobacterial strain—for their:

• Genomic stability

• Biochemical output

• Growth behavior in microgravity

• Response to cosmic radiation

The experiment seeks to validate how well these microorganisms can perform in space compared to Earth, focusing on whether they can thrive and continuously produce oxygen and essential biomolecules.

How This Supports Gaganyaan

India's Gaganyaan mission, its first planned crewed orbital flight scheduled for 2026, will rely on compact, efficient life support technologies. The results from the Ax-4 mission could help resolve crucial challenges such as:

• Maintaining stable microbial systems for oxygen and waste recycling.

• Supporting biomanufacturing of medicines or biomaterials in space.

• Reducing dependency on Earth-based resupply.

ISRO’s interest in cyanobacteria stems from previous studies like NASA's PowerCell project, which demonstrated the ability of cyanobacteria to germinate Bacillus subtilis spores, showing their potential in symbiotic microbial ecosystems for long-duration space stays.

🌱 Space Biology: A Strategic Move

Shukla’s mission is part of a broader push by India into space biology, which could pave the way for biotech advancements like:

• Manufacturing pharmaceuticals in space.

• 3D printing of organs in microgravity.

• Designing microbial ecosystems for lunar and Martian habitats.

ISRO is also running parallel studies using the soil bacterium Sporosarcina pasteurii aboard its MANAS pico-satellite, aimed at understanding microbial behavior in orbit.

Alongside the cyanobacteria study, Shukla will carry out six more experiments, including research on tardigrades, often called “water bears” for their extreme resilience, and preliminary studies on space agriculture.

A Giant Leap for India’s Space Future

The findings from these studies are expected to lay the foundation for next-generation space technologies, including sustainable deep-space habitats. With assistance from Indian private space firms like Skyroot Aerospace, the mission also reflects the growing role of private-public collaboration in India's space program.

As India prepares to send its astronauts into orbit under the Gaganyaan banner, Shukla’s research aboard the ISS stands as a cornerstone in ensuring their survival and success. His mission not only represents national pride but also showcases India's commitment to pushing the boundaries of space science.