Shubhanshu Shukla Begins Return from ISS After Completing Axiom-4 Mission

 Shubhanshu Shukla Begins Return from ISS After Completing Axiom-4 Mission

After an 18-day stay on the International Space Station (ISS), Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the Indian astronaut on Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4), began his return journey to Earth on July 15, 2025.

Mission Highlights:

Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is an Indian astronaut and served as a pilot for the Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4).

He spent 18 days (previously stated as two-and-a-half weeks, which is approximately 17-18 days) on the International Space Station (ISS).

During a farewell ceremony, he described "today's India" from space as "ambitious, fearless, confident, and full of pride," adding that it "still looks the best in the world" (Aaj ka Bharat abhi bhi sare jahan se acha dikhta hai).

He emphasized the far-reaching implications of space missions beyond science and the power of humanity collaborating for common goals.

Upon his return, he will undergo a week-long rehabilitation program under flight surgeons to re-adapt to Earth's gravity.

Mission Details

Mission Type: Human spaceflight, part of Axiom Mission 4.

Spacecraft: SpaceX Dragon capsule.

Crew Members:Four, including Group Captain Shukla.

Undocking: Scheduled for Monday at 4:35 p.m. IST from the ISS's Harmony module.

Return Journey Duration:Approximately 22.5 hours.

Splashdown: Expected on Tuesday at 3:00 p.m. IST off the coast of California in the U.S.

About Gaganyaan Mission:

The Gaganyaan mission aims to demonstrate India's indigenous capability to send a crew of three astronauts to a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) of 400 km for a 3-day mission and safely bring them back to Earth.

If successful, India will become the fourth country after the US, Russia, and China to independently achieve human spaceflight capability.

The mission is being developed in collaboration with various research labs, Indian academia, and industries.

Timeline and Phases:

The first crewed human spaceflight under the Gaganyaan program is currently scheduled for the first quarter of 2027.

Prior to the crewed mission, there will be uncrewed test flights to validate the systems and ensure safety.

The second Test Vehicle mission (TV-D2) is slated for later in 2025, followed by the uncrewed orbital flights of Gaganyaan.

Recently, in July 2025, ISRO successfully conducted two hot tests of the Gaganyaan Service Module Propulsion System (SMPS), an important step in the mission's progress.

The International Space Station (ISS):

It is a multinational collaborative project that serves as a research laboratory and a habitable artificial satellite in Low Earth Orbit (LEO). It is a symbol of international cooperation in space.

The ISS orbits Earth at an average altitude of about 400 km (250 miles) and travels at approximately 28,000 km/h (17,500 mph), completing one full revolution around the

Earth every 90 minutes.

It has been continuously occupied by humans since November 2000, making it the longest continuous human presence in space.

As of July 15, 2025, the Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) crew, including Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, successfully undocked from the ISS on July 14, 2025, after a 20-day stay and are en route for splashdown off the coast of California

NASA is targeting July 31, 2025, for the launch of its next astronaut mission with SpaceX, called Crew-11, to the ISS.

Primary Objectives:

The ISS serves as a microgravity research laboratory for various scientific disciplines, including astronomy, physics, astrobiology, and meteorology.

It enables long-term exploration of space by allowing scientists to study the effects of long-duration space exposure on the human body, which is crucial for future missions to the Moon and Mars.

It acts as a testbed for spaceship equipment and systems required for future human space exploration missions.

Research conducted on the ISS aims to bring benefits to people on Earth, such as advancements in medicine, technology, and science.

The ISS also serves as an educational platform to inspire youth in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields.

International Partners:

The ISS is a joint project involving five major space agencies:

NASA (United States)

Roscosmos (Russia) 

ESA (European Space Agency, representing several European nations)

JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency)

CSA (Canadian Space Agency