Picture astronauts like Rakesh Sharma or Shubhanshu Shukla soaring into space. Now, imagine tiny fruit flies tagging along! These little heroes are part of Axiom Space's Ax-4 mission, launching on June 8, 2025, to the International Space Station (ISS). They are helping scientists tackle a huge problem: how to protect astronauts from harmful space radiation. This experiment could make trips to the Moon, Mars, and beyond much safer.

Why fruit flies?

You've probably swatted fruit flies hovering over ripe fruit. But in science, they are superstars! Fruit flies share about 75% of the genes linked to human diseases. They grow super fast, are easy to study, and are tough cookies. Their larvae (baby flies) can survive crazy high levels of radiation that would harm most creatures. That's why scientists are using them to see how space radiation affects DNA -- the instruction manual inside our cells that keeps us healthy.

Why is space so risky?

Space is cool but dangerous. There is no air to block radiation from the Sun or cosmic rays, which can damage DNA and make cells sick. Plus, in space, you float because there is almost no gravity. This 'microgravity' makes it harder for our bodies to repair DNA damage. If we want to build bases on Mars or explore faraway planets, we need to keep astronauts safe from these risks.

What's happening on Ax-4?

On the ISS, scientists will test if fruit flies can make special proteins to fix DNA damaged by radiation. They will study the flies and their babies to check if these proteins work. If they do, it could lead to new medicines or treatments to protect astronauts on long space missions. Think of it like giving astronauts a superhero shield against space radiation!

What's NASA's BioSentinel mission?

The Ax-4 mission is not alone in this quest. NASA's BioSentinel mission, launched in 2022, is another cool project studying DNA in space. BioSentinel is a small spacecraft, called a CubeSat, that orbits the Sun far from Earth's protective magnetic field. It carries yeast cells—tiny organisms like those used to make bread—to test how deep space radiation affects DNA repair.

Yeast is similar to human cells in how it handles DNA damage, so BioSentinel’s results help scientists understand what happens to living things in deep space. By comparing BioSentinel's yeast experiments with Ax-4's fruit fly studies, scientists get a bigger picture of how to protect astronauts on missions far from Earth.

Why does this matter?

These experiments are a big deal. If fruit flies or yeast show us how to fix DNA in space, we could create ways to keep astronauts healthy during long journeys. The Ax-4 mission, with astronauts from India, the USA, Poland, and Hungary, is a proud moment for India and the world.

Fruit flies are super small, but their role is massive. Along with BioSentinel's yeast, they are helping us figure out how to stay safe in space. The Ax-4 mission reminds us that even the tiniest creatures can be heroes in our quest to reach the stars. So, next time you spot a fruit fly, give it a nod -- it's helping make space travel safer for everyone!

The author is an award-winning science communicator and a Defence, Aerospace & Geopolitical Analyst.