Axiom-4 mission crew dive deep into health research

Axiom-4 mission crew are diving deeper into the diverse health research studies and global outreach efforts.

The crew collected data for the telemetric health AI study, to better understand how spaceflight impacts cardiovascular and balance systems. By applying advanced data science techniques, this project could lead to smarter, real-time health monitoring — both in space and on Earth.

The Telemetry System for SpaceHealth (TESH) project is from the Hungarian on Orbit (HUNOR) programme.

Axiom mission crew also collected data for the Neuro Motion VR project, where astronauts don virtual reality (VR) headsets and perform attention-based tasks while their brain activity is monitored using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). This research explores how microgravity affects cognitive and motor functions, which could provide valuable insight for future deep space missions.

Ax-4 mission Commander Peggy Whitson worked on the cancer in lower earth orbit investigation. The insights could reveal how cancer behaves under the unique stressors of microgravity. This research, in collaboration with the Sanford Stem Cell Institute, could pave the way for cancer treatments back on Earth — especially for aggressive, metastatic cancers.

Mission pilot Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla focused on the space microalgae experiment, deploying sample bags and capturing images of the algae strains. These tiny organisms could play a big role in the future of space exploration, offering a sustainable, nutrient-rich food source for long-duration missions.

Shukla will conduct seven experiments in total and five in collaboration with National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacted with Shukla, Hungarian astronaut Tibor Kapu had a special moment connecting with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.

Peggy and Polish astronaut Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski engaged in a conversation with Axiom Space Chief Scientist Dr Lucie Low about the ongoing efforts to protect astronauts from space radiation.