CURRENT AFFAIRS
CURRENT AFFAIRS
Description
Next month, India, Poland, and Hungary will participate in a collaborative human spaceflight mission, marking a return to government-backed space journeys after more than four decades. The mission, Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4), will feature a four-member international crew, including an astronaut from the United States. The team will spend two weeks aboard the International Space Station (ISS), conducting a range of cutting-edge scientific experiments, including a significant study by India’s space agency, ISRO, involving tardigrades.
About Tardigrades
Tardigrades, often called "water bears," are microscopic, eight-legged organisms known for their remarkable resilience. Typically measuring between 0.1 mm to 0.5 mm, they can withstand extreme temperatures, high radiation, the vacuum of space, and even survive without water. These organisms have existed on Earth for nearly 600 million years, making them a key subject in biological and space research.
ISRO's Voyager Tardigrades Experiment
Among the seven ISRO-led projects aboard the ISS, the Voyager Tardigrades experiment stands out. It aims to examine how these creatures revive from dormancy in a microgravity environment. The study will also monitor their reproductive cycle by observing how they lay and hatch eggs in space. Furthermore, researchers will compare gene expression in tardigrades raised on Earth with those grown in space to identify any differences.
Tardigrades Matter In Space Science
Tardigrades are considered ideal for understanding the biological challenges of space travel. Their unique mechanisms such as DNA repair and entering a cryptobiotic state make them excellent models for developing strategies to protect astronauts during prolonged space missions. These insights could be crucial for designing future space exploration systems and ensuring human survival beyond Earth.
Enhancing India Space Ambitions
Findings from the Voyager Tardigrades study may significantly contribute to India’s upcoming Gaganyaan mission, the country's first human spaceflight program. India's involvement in Axiom Mission 4, alongside partners like SpaceX and NASA, signals a growing commitment to international space collaboration and advanced space research.
Tardigrades Survival Tactics
One of the most fascinating traits of tardigrades is their ability to enter a state known as a "tun," where they retract their limbs and curl into a ball. This state allows them to endure prolonged periods of extreme conditions, including drought and food scarcity. When reintroduced to a suitable environment, they return to normal activity, resuming growth and reproduction.
A Historical Precedent
Tardigrades have previously been exposed to space conditions. In 2007, a mission by the European Space Agency sent tardigrades into space for 10 days. Astonishingly, more than two-thirds survived the exposure to space vacuum and radiation and were able to reproduce upon their return.
Other Indian Experiments On Axiom Mission 4
India's scientific contribution to Ax-4 includes several other experiments with global partnerships:
Human Interaction with Screens in Space
Goal: To understand how astronauts use digital screens in microgravity.
Involves: Eye tracking, hand-pointing tasks, and stress monitoring.
Partners: ISRO, NASA, Voyager.
Space Microalgae Study
Objective: Examine the growth and metabolism of edible microalgae.
Significance: Microalgae can be a sustainable food source during long space missions.
Partners: ISRO, NASA, Redwire.
Cyanobacteria Behavior in Microgravity
Study: Two types of photosynthetic cyanobacteria.
Use Case: Potentially valuable for oxygen generation and waste recycling on spacecraft.
Partners: ISRO and ESA.
Muscle Regeneration Research
Focus: Effects of metabolic supplements on muscle health in space.
Goal: Prevent muscle degeneration in astronauts and support muscle therapies on Earth.
Partners: ISRO, NASA, BioServe.
Seed Sprouting in Space
Objective: Observe how salad seeds grow across generations in microgravity.
Relevance: Ensures food self-sufficiency during extended missions.
Partners: ISRO, NASA, BioServe.
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