Indian Astronaut to Join ISS by 2025

Rob Ferl, a researcher from the University of Florida, is set to conduct a groundbreaking experiment on plant adaptation in space during a Blue Origin New Shepard launch. This study aims to understand how the plant Arabidopsis thaliana adjusts its gene expression when transitioning from Earth to a space environment, providing insights crucial for future space exploration. Meanwhile, India is making strides in its space ambitions with an Indian astronaut expected to reach the International Space Station by April 2025 as part of a NASA-ISRO collaboration. Group Captains Shubhanshu Shukla and Prashanth Balakrishnan Nair are currently training in the U.S. for this mission, which coincides with India's inaugural National Space Day celebrations. Additionally, SpaceX's Polaris mission will see a private crew attempt a unique spacewalk, pushing the boundaries of human spaceflight by exposing them to the Van Allen radiation belts. These developments highlight significant advancements in international space exploration efforts.