(Source: Axion Space)
BENGALURU: Indian universities and research organisations can now become part of a new international consortium launched by Axiom Space to drive microgravity science and innovation in low-Earth orbit.Axiom, whose Ax-4 mission took India’s Shubhanshu Shukla to the International Space Station (ISS) and back, already has a partnership with Indian space startup Skyroot Aerospace to jointly expand access to low-Earth orbit. The new global initiative — Axiom Space University Alliance — announced Thursday, is open to academic partners worldwide, including India, to collaborate on research, technology development, and commercial applications in space.The alliance already includes 15 members from the US, Europe, and Australia. By extending participation to other regions, Axiom said it aims to build the world’s leading academic network focused on space science during the transition from government-run to commercially operated space stations. For Indian institutes, this offers a pathway into a global research ecosystem that is expected to shape the next phase of human activity in orbit. Axiom Space, the company building what it calls the world’s first commercial space station, said the alliance would serve as a forum to align global research priorities and provide opportunities for collaboration between institutions at different stages of space research. This means established players with experience in orbital science can share knowledge with newer entrants, including those in India that are beginning to explore experiments in microgravity.Lucie Low, chief science officer at Axiom Space, said the effort was meant to protect and expand access to low-Earth orbit for science as govts shift to commercial providers. “Microgravity research has driven decades of breakthroughs in medicine, materials, and technology. By uniting academic and research institutions globally, we can ensure science remains at the centre of space exploration and commercialisation,” she said.The alliance also positions itself as a global voice to advocate for microgravity research and technology development. It plans to identify research gaps and opportunities that could shape both national and international agendas. For countries like India, with growing ambitions in space exploration and human spaceflight, this could open avenues to test experiments in fields ranging from life sciences to advanced materials.Axiom Space said it was cultivating a “diverse and inclusive network” of researchers. Universities, industry leaders, and government agencies interested in joining have been invited to reach out.
