Spirulina

Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, one of India’s astronauts, will conduct exclusive food and nutrition-related experiments onboard the International Space Station (ISS) as part of the Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4). The experiments aim to pioneer space nutrition and self-sustaining life support systems vital for future long-duration space travel.

• One of the experiments will investigate the growth and proteomic response of cyanobacteria—specifically Spirulina and Synechococcus—under microgravity, using urea- and nitrate-based media.

• The research will evaluate the potential of Spirulina as a space “superfood” due to its high protein and vitamin content, assess the feasibility of using nitrogen sources derived from human waste, such as urea, for cyanobacterial growth, and study the effects of microgravity on cellular metabolism and biological efficiency.

• Spirulina or Arthrospira is a blue-green alga that became famous after it was successfully used by NASA as a dietary supplement for astronauts on space missions.

• Spirulina can grow in extreme conditions inhospitable to most other water-dwelling organisms.

(Source: PIB)