Indian Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla's Ingenious Solution to Microgravity Challenges on the ISS

Shubhanshu Shukla identified himself as the 634th astronaut to journey into space (File)

New Delhi:

During his 18-day mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS), astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla had to rotate himself for three hours to collect samples from micro gravity experiments he conducted.

Speaking at the Emerging Science, Technology and Innovation Conclave (ESTIC), Shukla shared insights about his time on the orbital laboratory, describing the G-force sensations during lift-off and splashdown, the weightlessness experience, and the challenges of readjusting to Earth after returning from space.

"I want to take you through this journey with me and share my experiences so you can virtually experience this spaceflight alongside me," Shukla explained during his comprehensive presentation on the Axiom-4 mission, which made him the first Indian to visit the ISS.

Shukla revealed that he spent approximately three hours spinning himself to extract samples using a syringe from a pouch for research examining how micro-algae, a nutrient-dense food source, develops in the space environment.

"When dealing with air bubbles in a syringe on Earth, you can simply apply pressure to release the bubble, or flip the pouch to make it rise to the top. These techniques don't work in space," he explained.

His task involved collecting micro-algae experiment samples from a pouch and preserving them in small containers inside a freezer for return to Earth.

"With air bubbles present, the only effective solution is to become a human centrifuge," he said, noting that he needed to collect 36 samples, with each requiring four to five centrifuge rotations.

"I had to continuously spin for three hours just to extract these samples without air contamination and store them in small containers for freezing," Shukla added, emphasizing that space's unique environment demands innovative problem-solving approaches.

Shukla mentioned that during their year-long preparation for the mission, the Axiom-4 crew had considered every possible aspect of human spaceflight, but the actual experience after launching from Kennedy Space Centre was entirely different from what they had anticipated.

"Our training prepared us for the flight, but once ignition occurred, all my preconceptions immediately vanished. From that moment until recovery, I experienced something completely new throughout. It resembled what I had learned, yet it was distinctly different," he explained.

While Shukla acknowledged being the 634th person to travel to space, he only fully grasped the significance of his achievement when visiting his school in Lucknow. Interacting with students who were inspired by seeing someone from their background reach the space station made the impact of his journey truly meaningful.