India’s Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is set to pilot the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft as part of the Ax-4 mission to the International Space Station (ISS), launching this May.
In collaboration with ISRO, NASA, and Axiom Space, Shukla will lead the Voyager Displays experiment, designed to analyze the cognitive and physical effects of computer screen usage in microgravity.
The study aims to understand how tasks like pointing, gaze fixation, and rapid eye movements differ in space from Earth, as well as their impact on stress and well-being. Results will contribute to designing improved computer systems for spacecraft and support the Gaganyaan Mission, which will send Indian astronauts to space.
ISRO is sending seven experiments aboard Ax-4, all contributing to understanding the biological impacts of space. The mission is set to conduct around 60 studies from 31 countries, making it one of the most research-intensive missions to date. Shukla’s participation symbolizes India’s growing role in international space exploration and technological advancement.
