Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla and his crewmates from the Axiom-4 mission are making their way back to Earth after an intensive 18 days aboard the International Space Station (ISS). The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft undocked from the ISS at approximately 4:50 PM IST on Monday. The crew is scheduled to splash down off the coast of California on Tuesday, July 15, at around 3 PM IST, following a 22.5-hour journey.
The Axiom-4 crew features Shubhanshu Shukla, representing the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Polish astronaut Slawosz UznaÅ„ski-WiÅ›niewski from the European Space Agency (ESA), Tibor Kapu from Hungary’s HUNOR program, and Peggy Whitson, a former NASA astronaut and the current Director of Human Spaceflight at Axiom Space. Serving as the mission’s pilot, Shukhanshu Shukla becomes the second Indian to venture into space, following Rakesh Sharma’s landmark mission in 1984.
The Dragon spacecraft launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on June 25, docking with the ISS the next day. Throughout their stay, the crew engaged in a range of scientific experiments, focused on areas such as medicine, space agriculture, human physiology, and mental health. Captain Shukla led critical research examining skeletal and muscular degradation in microgravity and assessed the feasibility of using microalgae as a sustainable nutritional source for long-duration missions.
The mission brought back over 250 kilograms of cargo, including equipment and samples from various experiments conducted in the space environment.
The Axiom-4 mission also carries significant diplomatic weight. A NASA statement highlighted that it is the result of strong collaborative efforts between NASA and ISRO, fulfilling a commitment made between former US President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to send the first ISRO astronaut to the ISS.
Back in Lucknow, Shubhanshu Shukla’s family awaits his safe return with palpable excitement. His father, Shambhu Dayal Shukla, mentioned that during video calls, Shubhanshu shared details about his living and working conditions aboard the ISS, vividly describing his unique experiences of floating in microgravity. Meanwhile, his mother, Asha Devi, revealed that the family had visited a local temple to pray for his safety during the first Monday of the sacred month of Sawan.
Shubhanshu Shukla’s successful mission represents a pivotal achievement for India’s space ambitions and strengthens international partnerships in human spaceflight. The impending safe landing of the Axiom-4 mission will not only signify the return of the four astronauts but also herald a new era of heightened global collaboration in space exploration.
