India’s ambitious space programme is poised to make another landmark achievement as Group Captain Shubanshu Shukla, a selected astronaut for India’s Gaganyaan mission, is set to conduct cutting-edge experiments on physical, cognitive, and physiological responses in space. This was confirmed by Union Minister of State for Science & Technology, Dr. Jitendra Singh, during a media briefing on India’s preparations for the country’s first crewed spaceflight.
Group Captain Shukla will lead a series of onboard experiments focused on understanding how the human body and mind adapt to microgravity, with special attention to the cognitive impact of continuous exposure to electronic displays—a first-of-its-kind study for India in human spaceflight.
Pioneering Human Space Research
According to Dr. Jitendra Singh, the research will delve into critical parameters necessary for long-duration space missions:
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Physical responses: Muscle atrophy, bone density loss, and motor control under microgravity conditions.
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Cognitive performance: Reaction time, memory, decision-making, and attention span in confined space environments.
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Physiological monitoring: Heart rate variability, circadian rhythm disruption, and stress hormone levels.
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Impact of screen exposure: A novel investigation into how prolonged viewing of electronic displays in a microgravity environment affects mental health, visual fatigue, and neural functioning.
“These experiments will not only aid India’s future manned missions but also add to the global knowledge base on space health. It is vital for planning deep space exploration,” Dr. Singh emphasized.
Shubanshu Shukla: A Key Figure in India’s Space Odyssey
Group Captain Shubanshu Shukla, a highly trained test pilot from the Indian Air Force, is among the four astronauts selected and trained under the Gaganyaan programme, with rigorous conditioning completed in collaboration with Russia’s Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center and ISRO’s own facilities in Bengaluru.
Known for his discipline and academic acumen, Shukla is equipped to carry out complex biomedical and cognitive experiments with high precision. His research findings are expected to be critical in refining astronaut training protocols and spacecraft design for future missions.
The Science of Microgravity and Digital Screens
While several space agencies have studied sleep, stress, and visual perception in space, this Indian-led research will focus specifically on the neurological and psychological impacts of prolonged digital screen use in a microgravity environment. This includes:
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Blue-light exposure and circadian disruption
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Eye strain and accommodation-convergence mismatch
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Influence on mental alertness and decision-making efficiency
Given that astronauts rely heavily on electronic screens for controls, telemetry, communication, and entertainment, understanding these effects is vital for ensuring mission safety and psychological resilience.
A Boost to India’s Space Medicine Sector
This initiative also strengthens India’s growing capabilities in space medicine and biomedical engineering. Collaborations with premier institutes like AIIMS, DRDO labs, and academic researchers will ensure that the findings have translational benefits for both space and terrestrial medicine—especially in areas like remote health monitoring and telemedicine.
Gaganyaan: India’s Leap into Human Spaceflight
India’s maiden human spaceflight mission Gaganyaan is scheduled for launch in 2025-26, carrying three Indian astronauts into Low Earth Orbit (LEO) for a mission duration of up to one week. It marks India’s entry into an elite group of nations with independent human spaceflight capabilities.
