Indian Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla Set to Return from ISS as Axiom-4 Mission Nears Completion

As the Axiom-4 mission draws to a close, Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla and his three international crewmates are preparing to undock from the International Space Station (ISS) on July 14 at 4:34 PM IST, according to NASA.

Following undocking, SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft will perform a series of orbital maneuvers and is expected to splash down near the coast of California on July 15 at 3:00 PM IST, ISRO confirmed. The capsule will return with over 580 pounds of cargo, including NASA equipment and scientific data from more than 60 experiments conducted during the mission.

Shukla and the rest of the crew — mission commander Peggy Whitson (USA) and mission specialists Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski (Poland) and Tibor Kapu (Hungary) — are scheduled to board the Dragon capsule at 2:25 PM IST on July 14, following pre-departure system checks.

Rehabilitation After Return

Upon splashdown, Shukla will enter a week-long rehabilitation program to readjust to Earth’s gravity. “Post splashdown, the Gaganyatri will undergo a rehabilitation program (about seven days) under supervision of Flight Surgeon,” said ISRO.

His family in India is eagerly awaiting his return. Speaking to PTI, Shukla’s father, Shambhu Dayal Shukla, shared his pride: “It felt great to see that his mission is going well. He showed us where he works, where he sleeps, his lab, and what his daily routine looks like.”

A Historic Journey

Launched on June 26 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Axiom Mission 4 made Shubhanshu Shukla the second Indian in space and the first to live and work aboard the ISS.

Over the course of their two-week stay, the crew carried out a variety of scientific experiments, including the centrifugation and freezing of microalgae samples, among other research activities focused on life sciences and microgravity effects.

With the successful completion of the mission, Shukla’s return will mark another milestone in India’s growing footprint in global space exploration.