Overview
- Speaking at the India International Science Festival in Panchkula, the Axiom-4 flier engaged students as the first Indian to visit the International Space Station.
- He said his roughly 18–20 day mission generated data now under analysis to inform India’s human spaceflight programme.
- Experiments included microgravity research on India-centric food and medicines, plus seeds brought back to study changes across five generations.
- He noted a new selection framework in development to open astronaut pathways beyond the Indian Air Force, citing a goal of building a pool of 40–50 astronauts.
- Describing operational and physical challenges such as disorientation, brain fog and temporary height increase, he urged youth to pursue science in service of a developed India by 2047.