Houston: The Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) crew has officially begun a series of high-impact scientific experiments aboard the International Space Station (ISS), marking a significant milestone in commercial space exploration. Among the most anticipated studies is a pioneering myogenesis experiment led by Indian astronaut and Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, aimed at understanding how microgravity affects muscle cell formation a critical field for both astronaut health and biomedical research on Earth.
Launched from Cape Canaveral on June 25, the Ax-4 mission represents the most research-intensive private spaceflight to date, with over 60 experiments from 31 countries. The mission is being carried out under the leadership of veteran astronaut Peggy Whitson, with a multinational crew including Shukla (India), Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski (Poland), and Tibor Kapu (Hungary). The team successfully docked with the ISS on June 26 and immediately began setting up equipment and initiating key research projects.
One of the most significant experiments onboard is Shukla’s myogenesis study, which examines how microgravity influences muscle development at a cellular level. This experiment, conducted within the ISS’s Life Sciences Glovebox, aims to uncover the genetic and biochemical pathways that cause muscle deterioration in space a phenomenon with far-reaching implications for astronauts on long-duration missions and patients with muscle-wasting diseases on Earth.
In addition to the muscle cell research, Shukla is also conducting space agriculture experiments, cultivating traditional Indian crops like fenugreek (methi) and moong dal in microgravity. These plant growth trials are designed to explore sustainable food production in space, a vital concern for future interplanetary travel. Another novel study includes research on tardigrades, the nearly indestructible microscopic organisms known for surviving extreme conditions. Understanding how they adapt to space could offer insights into cellular repair and stress resistance mechanisms.
The Ax-4 mission is also addressing broader health, environmental, and technological concerns. Experiments include cancer studies, neural interface testing, microalgae cultivation, radiation monitoring, and even a sensory experiment involving the opening of champagne in microgravity, all of which underline the wide scope and ambition of Axiom’s fourth private mission to the ISS.
A major highlight of the mission is its international and interdisciplinary nature. The astronauts are collaborating with agencies like NASA, ESA, and ISRO, and private research institutions such as Burjeel Holdings and the ISS National Laboratory. The mission is setting a precedent for how commercial spaceflights can contribute to global scientific advancement.
For India, Shukla’s presence on Ax-4 carries symbolic and strategic significance, serving as a bridge to the country’s upcoming Gaganyaan mission slated for 2026–27. His research contributes critical data for human spaceflight endurance and showcases India’s growing capabilities in space science and international collaboration.
As Ax-4 progresses, its outcomes are expected to deepen humanity’s understanding of life in space while delivering real-world benefits in medicine, agriculture, and biotechnology back on Earth. The mission affirms that private space endeavors, when aligned with global cooperation and scientific purpose, can powerfully advance the frontiers of human knowledge.