Axiom Mission 4 Heads Back to Earth with Indian Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla Onboard

Axiom Mission 4, carrying Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla and three international crewmates, has begun its return journey to Earth after undocking from the International Space Station (ISS) on Monday evening.

The SpaceX Dragon capsule detached from the Harmony module’s space-facing port at 4:45 PM IST and is expected to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere and splash down in the Pacific Ocean, off the coast of California, around 3:01 PM IST on Tuesday — weather and technical conditions permitting.

Axiom Space confirmed that live coverage of the splashdown will begin at 2 PM IST on its official website. Union Minister for Science and Technology Dr. Jitendra Singh also posted on X, stating the expected landing time and noted a one-hour margin window for the operation.

Crew and Mission Highlights

Joining Shukla on the mission are Commander Peggy Whitson, a veteran NASA astronaut; Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski, a mission specialist from Poland; and Hungarian astronaut Tibor Kapu.

Following undocking, the capsule performed a series of controlled thruster burns to safely maneuver away from the ISS. Dragon is now on a calculated orbital path that will bring the crew back to Earth. SpaceX stated that the spacecraft will signal its reentry with a brief sonic boom shortly before splashdown near San Diego.

The undocking sequence, broadcast live, showed the crew suiting up and strapping in moments before separation. A couple of gentle thruster bursts safely pushed the capsule away from the ISS, marking the official start of its journey home.

India Watches Closely as Shukla Returns

This mission marks a significant milestone for Indian space participation in private orbital missions. According to ISRO, Group Captain Shukla successfully completed all seven scheduled microgravity experiments and participated in over 20 outreach activities aboard the ISS during the mission’s span.

Speaking to ANI, Shukla’s father expressed hope and gratitude. “We are very happy the undocking happened safely. We are praying for a smooth landing. We have full faith in the Almighty,” he said. Dr. Jitendra Singh also celebrated the successful undocking, saying the country awaits Shukla’s safe return with pride.

About the Mission

Axiom Mission 4 was launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on June 25. Over the course of the mission, the crew conducted more than 60 scientific experiments and engaged in several educational outreach events, making it a landmark initiative in commercial spaceflight and global collaboration.

If all proceeds according to plan, Shubhanshu Shukla will return home Tuesday as the latest Indian astronaut to successfully complete a space mission — and the first to do so as part of a privately funded international crew.