Shukla speaks to Isro chairman, experiments reviewed

BENGALURU: Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla , currently aboard the International Space Station (ISS) as part of the Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission, spoke with Isro chairman V Narayanan on July 6, 2025, Isro said Monday.

The telephonic conversation focused on Shukla’s health, mission progress, and the scientific work being undertaken in orbit.

“The chairman inquired about the experiments being conducted and emphasised the importance of detailed documentation post-mission. He noted that the observations and outcomes from this mission would provide critical inputs for India’s upcoming human spaceflight mission, Gaganyaan,” Isro said

Senior Isro officials also joined the discussion, including VSSC director S Unnikrishnan Nair, M Mohan, director, LPSC, Padmakumar ES, director, Isro Inertial Systems Unit, M Ganesh Pillai, scientific secretary, Isro and N Vedachalam, former director of LPSC.

The officials interacted with Shukla and discussed various aspects of the experiments. Shukla, who has been conducting several scientific studies aboard the ISS under the Isro–Axiom Spaceflight agreement, shared updates on the objectives and challenges of the research.

Narayanan reaffirmed that Isro continues to provide mission support and recalled his prior meetings with Shukla to guide and motivate him before the launch. He also noted regular interactions with standby astronaut Prashant Balan Nair to ensure mission readiness.

Shukla’s observations and inputs are expected to contribute significantly to the Gaganyaan mission , which aims to demonstrate India’s ability to send astronauts into low Earth orbit and return them safely.