India’s Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, accompanied by his Axiom‑4 crewmates, successfully undocked from the International Space Station (ISS) on July 14, 2025, marking the culmination of their nearly three-week mission in orbit aboard the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule, aptly named Grace. The departure took place at approximately 4:15 PM IST, initiating a meticulously planned return trajectory aimed at a Pacific Ocean splashdown near Southern California, anticipated around 3 PM IST on July 15 .
The Axiom‑4 expedition, launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on June 25, carried a diverse international crew comprised of veteran NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, Poland’s Sławosz Uznanski‑Wisniewski, Hungary’s Tibor Kapu, alongside Shubhanshu Shukla. Together, they undertook more than 60 scientific experiments spanning multiple disciplines—including studies on microgravity’s effects on algae, human cognitive responses to electronic displays, muscle regeneration, and even food-crop growth—many of which were jointly developed by Indian universities and ISRO institutes.
The journey home began with the Dragon spacecraft executing a precise undocking maneuver followed by a series of engine burns to safely distance itself from the ISS. Engineered to minimize risk during re-entry, the spacecraft shed its service module before orienting its heat shield towards atmospheric re-entry, where it will endure temperatures of up to 1,600 °C. Following re-entry, a two-stage parachute deployment will safely slow the capsule—first with stabilization chutes at around 5.7 km altitude, then the main parachutes at approximately 2 km—culminating in the expected splashdown on July 15. Recovery teams will promptly reach the capsule to retrieve the crew and return them to land.
During a brief farewell ceremony aboard the ISS prior to undocking, Shubhanshu Shukla delivered a heartfelt address paying homage to his predecessor Rakesh Sharma—India’s first astronaut—while articulating a modern vision of “Aaj ka Bharat” (“Today’s India”). He expressed deep gratitude to international partners and highlighted the mission’s scientific contributions, saying it underscores the unity and collective spirit of space exploration. His reflections echoed his historic sentiments from launch: “Namaskar, mere pyaare desh vasiyon…What a ride!” he had said from space, reaffirming that India’s journey to the ISS represents not just a milestone, but a pivot toward a sustained human spaceflight future.
For India, Shukla’s Axiom‑4 mission carries profound significance. It marks the nation’s re‑entry into human spaceflight after a 41‑year hiatus since Sharma’s flight in 1984—and crucially aligns with ISRO’s upcoming Gaganyaan mission, slated for 2027 . ISRO officials have affirmed that the mission’s operational learnings—from crew-ground coordination and real-time medical monitoring to executing experiments in microgravity—will directly inform and strengthen Gaganyaan. Indeed, Shukla’s time aboard the ISS involved conducting at least seven India-led experiments, with the mission pilot transmitting health and experiment data live to ground stations in India.
Back in Lucknow, Shukla’s family prepared to welcome him home with deep pride and anticipation. His father, Shambhu Dayal Shukla, revealed that they had offered prayers at their home and at a local temple, invoking Lord Shiva’s protection over Shubhanshu’s re-entry. His mother, Asha, and sister Shuchi described a mix of excitement and emotion, recalling how they had prayed daily throughout the mission. Although the exact time of Shukla’s return home to Lucknow depends on post-landing health checks, they are poised for a heartfelt reunion.
The Axiom‑4 mission is part of a broader shift in NASA’s strategy, embracing commercial spaceflight through partnerships with companies like Axiom and SpaceX. This mission marks Axiom’s fourth private astronaut mission to the ISS and underscores the growing private-sector involvement in low‑Earth orbit research and operations—with future plans including private space stations and lunar landers.
As Shukla and his crewmates undertake their final hours before splashdown, all eyes remain on Grace and the recovery vessel making its way through the Pacific. Upon safe return, besides a wealth of scientific data and samples, their successful mission will stand as a testament to international collaboration, India’s renewed capabilities in human spaceflight, and the promise of an era where private enterprise plays an increasingly pivotal role in exploring space.
