ISRO, NASA to collaborate on experiments aboard International Space Station

Apart from the seven experiments that the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will conduct aboard the International Space Station (ISS) as part of Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4), the agency will also collaborate with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) on several additional experiments.

Dana Weigel, manager of the ISS programme, said, “NASA and ISRO have a unique joint agreement to work together onboard during this mission. They will conduct joint research.”

One such experiment is the Human Research Programme (HRP), which aims to mitigate the risks to human health and performance during space missions. According to NASA, HRP undertakes research and technology development to support next-generation systems that help humans live and work safely in space.

Another experiment will study how astronauts interact with electronic displays in microgravity. In collaboration with NASA and Voyager, ISRO will investigate the physical and cognitive effects of using computer screens in space. The research will focus on factors such as gaze fixation, rapid eye movements and how these may influence stress levels. Findings from this study could help improve the design and usability of spacecraft computer systems.

ISRO is also working with NASA on a project called “Voyager Tardigrades”, which will examine the revival, survival and reproduction of tardigrades aboard the ISS. The experiment will track how dormant tardigrades are revived, the number of eggs laid and how many hatch during the mission. The goal is to identify molecular mechanisms of resilience that could provide insights into life in extreme environments — benefitting both space exploration and biotechnology on Earth.

ISRO’s project director Sudeesh Balan, said, “ISRO will conduct seven experiments on the ISS. In addition, there are five more in collaboration with NASA under the human research programme.”

The seven other biological experiments by ISRO include studies on the impact of microgravity and radiation aboard the ISS on edible microalgae, as well as sprouting salad seeds in space.