Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla and his fellow crewmates from the Axiom-4 mission have begun their return journey to Earth after spending 18 eventful days aboard the International Space Station (ISS). The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft undocked from the ISS around 4.50 pm IST on Monday and is expected to splash down off the coast of California on Tuesday, July 15, around 3 pm IST, following a 22.5-hour flight.
The Axiom-4 crew includes Shubhanshu Shukla from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Polish astronaut Slawosz Uznaลski-Wiลniewski of the European Space Agency (ESA), Tibor Kapu from Hungaryโs HUNOR program, and Peggy Whitson, former NASA astronaut and current Director of Human Spaceflight at Axiom Space. Shukla, serving as the pilot of the mission, became only the second Indian to journey into space, following Rakesh Sharmaโs historic 1984 mission.
Launched from NASAโs Kennedy Space Center in Florida on June 25, the Dragon spacecraft docked with the ISS a day later. During their stay, the crew conducted numerous scientific experiments related to medicine, space agriculture, human physiology, and mental health. Captain Shukla led critical studies on skeletal and muscular degradation in microgravity and explored the use of microalgae as a sustainable nutritional source for long-duration space missions.
The mission also returned with over 250 kg of cargo, including equipment and samples from the experiments conducted aboard the station.
The spaceflight holds deep diplomatic significance as well. According to a NASA statement, the Axiom-4 mission was the result of collaborative efforts between NASA and ISRO, fulfilling a bilateral commitment made by former US President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to send the first ISRO astronaut to the ISS.
Back home in Lucknow, Shubhanshu Shuklaโs family waited anxiously for his safe return. His father, Shambhu Dayal Shukla, shared that during video calls, Shubhanshu showed them his living and working space inside the ISS and described the unique experience of floating in microgravity. His mother, Asha Devi, said the family had prayed at a local temple for his safe return during the first Monday of the holy month of Sawan.
Shubhanshu Shuklaโs successful mission marks a major milestone for Indiaโs space ambitions and strengthens global partnerships in human spaceflight. The safe landing of the Axiom-4 mission will signal not only the return of its four astronauts but also the beginning of a new era of international space collaboration.
