Space: Malayalees have reason to rejoice
INDIAN Air Force pilot turned astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla (39) from Lucknow created history on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, as he became the first Indian to become a crew member on the International Space Station.
The historic mission carries four astronauts from the US, India, Poland and Hungary to the ISS for a 14-day scientific expedition.
The Axiom-4 mission is not just a scientific feat but a testament to India’s rising stature as a global technology powerhouse. It reinforces the nation’s capability to lead space innovation, promote sustainability and contribute meaningfully to global missions.
Shukla will conduct pioneering experiments related to food and space nutrition. These experiments, developed under a collaboration between the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), with support from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), aim to enhance understanding of sustainable life-support systems, a crucial aspect of future long-duration space travel.
The research will also study the effects of microgravity and space radiation on edible microalgae, a nutrient-rich, high-potential food source for future space missions.
The experiment will evaluate key growth parameters and examine transcriptomic, proteomic and metabolomic changes in different algal species in space compared to their behaviour on Earth.
While interacting with the astronaut, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday: "Today, you are farthest away from your hometown, your country, but today, you are the closest in the hearts of your countrymen… Your name carries 'shubh', and your journey is the 'shubh' beginning of a new era.
"At this time, it is only us two speaking, but the thoughts of 140 crore Indians lie with me," Modi said. "My voice carries the excitement of all Indians."
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Malayalees have an additional reason to rejoice. Shubhanshu Shukla's space mission is carrying two rice varieties, "Jyothi" and "Uma", developed in Alappuzha. These are high-yielding rice varieties selected as representative samples for the space experiment.
According to official sources, other seeds included tomato, brinjal, sesame and cowpea. The Kerala Agricultural University developed these seeds, which are very popular with farmers in Kerala.
Meanwhile, Anil Menon, an Indian-origin NASA astronaut with Kerala connection, is scheduled to fly to the International Space Station (ISS) in June 2026 as part of NASA's Expedition 75.
He will be a flight engineer on the Soyuz MS-29 spacecraft alongside Russian cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Anna Kikina.
The crew is expected to spend approximately eight months on the ISS, conducting research and technology demonstrations.
Anil Menon’s father is Sankara Menon from Malabar. His mother is from Ukraine.
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Shubhanshu Shukla is the pilot of the Axiom-4 mission, which was launched from NASA's Kennedy Space Centre in Florida on Wednesday. The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft took about 28 hours to reach the ISS, successfully docking at the Harmony module.
The Ax-4 crew will stay on the ISS for around 14 days, working closely with the Expedition 73 crew. Together, they will conduct over 60 scientific experiments and educational activities — the most ambitious research schedule of any Axiom mission so far.
Their work will cover a range of areas, including cancer research, DNA repair and advanced manufacturing, showing how commercial and international cooperation is becoming a key part of space exploration.
Shukla's role extends far beyond symbolic representation. His participation provides India with invaluable operational experience that directly benefits the country's indigenous Gaganyaan mission scheduled for 2027.
Shukla is an inspiration to millions of Indians. His achievement is a source of pride for the nation. The World Malayalee Voice salutes his remarkable achievement while wishing Anil Menon the very best.
