Bengaluru: Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, who is currently on the International Space Station (ISS) as part of the AXIOM-4 (AX-4) mission, spoke to ISRO on 6 July, 2025 with V Narayanan, president of ISRO, said on Monday. Telephonic conversation focuses on Shukla’s health, mission progress and scientific work being done in class.
“The Speaker inquired about the experiments being conducted and emphasized the importance of detailed documentation post-mission. He said that observation and results from this mission would provide important inputs for India’s upcoming human spaceflight mission, Gaganan,” said ISRO.
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Senior ISRO officials also joined the discussion, including VSSC Director S Annikrishnan Nair, M Mohan, Director, LPSC, Padmakumar ES, Director, ISRO inertial system unit, M Ganesh Pillai, Scientist Secretary, ISRO and N Vedchalam, former directors of LPSC.The officials interacted with Shukla and discussed various aspects of the experiments. Shukla, who is conducting several scientific studies on ISS under the Isro -Axiom Spaceflight Agreement, shared the update on research objectives and challenges.Narayanan confirmed that ISRO continued to provide mission aid and recalled his former meetings with Shukla to guide and motivate him before the launch. He also paid attention to regular conversation with Standby astronaut Prashant Balan Nair to ensure the readiness of the mission.Shukla’s observation and inputs are expected to contribute significantly to the Gaganian mission, which aims to display India’s astronauts to send and return to the Earth’s orbit and return them safely.
