What are water bears that ISRO may send to space with Axiom-4?

Water bears, scientifically known as tardigrades, are microscopic, eight-legged organisms renowned for their extraordinary resilience. They can withstand extreme conditions, including high radiation, intense pressure, and the vacuum of space. Tardigrades achieve this by entering a cryptobiotic state called a “tun,” wherein they suspend their metabolism, allowing them to survive in inhospitable environments .​

In the upcoming Axiom-4 mission to the International Space Station (ISS), the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), in collaboration with NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA), plans to send tardigrades to study their revival, survival, and reproduction in microgravity. The experiment will focus on:​

Reviving dormant tardigrades aboard the ISS

Monitoring the number of eggs laid and hatched during the mission

Comparing gene expression patterns between space-flown and ground control populations​

This research aims to uncover molecular mechanisms of resilience, which could have implications for understanding life’s limits in extreme environments and inform future long-duration space missions .​

The Axiom-4 mission, scheduled for no earlier than May 2025, marks India’s first foray into research aboard the ISS. ISRO is investing between $60–70 million in this private commercial spaceflight, highlighting its commitment to advancing space biology and exploration .

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