Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla is set to make a historic communication from space with school students and scientists from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on July 4, 2025. The interaction, which will take place via ham radio, is part of the ARISS (Amateur Radio on the International Space Station) programme, designed to connect astronauts aboard the ISS with students around the world, inspiring the next generation of space explorers.

Shukla, currently aboard the International Space Station (ISS) as part of the Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission, will engage in a live session with students and ISRO scientists at Bengaluru’s U R Rao Satellite Centre. The conversation, scheduled for 10:17 UTC (3:47 PM IST), will be relayed through the K6DUE telebridge in the US. Ham radio, known for its reliability in emergencies, provides a unique platform for direct communication between astronauts and Earth-bound audiences.

This milestone event is part of a series of educational outreach efforts by the ARISS programme. Shukla, along with his fellow crew members, is aboard the ISS conducting groundbreaking scientific experiments, including a study on microalgae and its response to microgravity potentially paving the way for sustainable food systems for future space missions. The crew is also participating in the Neuro Motion VR experiment to study brain activity during spaceflight.

The Axiom-4 mission highlights the increasing involvement of private space companies in advancing space research and science while fostering educational outreach. This interaction on July 4 will offer a rare and exciting opportunity for students and scientists to engage directly with an astronaut in space, fueling curiosity and inspiring future careers in space exploration.