Shubhanshu Shukla has returned to Earth after an 18-day mission that pushed all the boundaries of science and space. But what did he bring back with him from space?
After staying 18 days at the International Space Station, Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla returned back to Earth with his three other members of the Axiom-4 mission and safely landed in the ocean close to San Diego on Tuesday afternoon. This mission took 22.5 hours.
After disconnecting, the Dragon spacecraft made a series of orbital movements before splashing down close to the California shore. The Dragon “Grace” spacecraft undocked from the ISS on Monday, marking the start of the astronauts’ trip down to Earth.
Dragon “Grace” Undocking And Return Journey
At 3:30 am CT (2 PM IST) on Monday, Shukla, astronauts Peggy Whitson (USA), Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski (Poland), and Tibor Kapu (Hungary) stepped aboard SpaceX’s Dragon spaceship “Grace.” At 7:15 am ET (4:45 pm IST), the spacecraft disembarked from the Harmony module of the ISS.
NASA verified that the hatch was closed at 5:07 a.m. EDT. SpaceX declared shortly after that “Dragon separation confirmed!” and that “Dragon is GO to undock from the Space Station” on its official X account.
A roughly 23-hour return trip to Earth concluded at this point. The crew will be retrieved by recovery personnel upon splashdown. After spending more than two weeks in space, Shukla will then start a seven-day rehabilitation program to help his body acclimate to Earth’s gravity.
The Dragon capsule will carry over 580 pounds of hardware and scientific data collected during the mission. NASA confirmed that the crew completed more than 60 experiments aboard the space station.
What Is Axiom Mission 4
The private crewed spaceflight known as Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) is slated to fly on June 8, 2025, to reach the International Space Station (ISS). In order to promote commercial operations in low Earth orbit, such as space tourism and private research, Axiom Space, NASA, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), and the European Space Agency (ESA) collaborated on this mission. As the first government-sponsored human spaceflight in more than 40 years, it is a landmark moment for nations like India, Poland, and Hungary.
Shubhanshu Shukla Became The First Indian To Visit ISS
The historic Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission was successfully completed at approximately 3:01 pm IST when Shukla, the first Indian to visit the ISS, splashed down safely in the Pacific Ocean near San Diego onboard SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft.
After Rakesh Sharma’s 1984 expedition, Shubhanshu Shukla became the second Indian to travel into space and the first Indian to orbit aboard the International Space Station.
PM Welcomed Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla
“I join the nation in welcoming Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla as he returns to Earth from his historic mission to space,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote in a message posted on X after he returned.
His commitment, bravery, and spirit of innovation have inspired a billion dreams as India’s first astronaut to visit the International Space Station. It represents another major move toward our own Gaganyaan Human Space Flight Mission.
Before Leaving The ISS, Shubhanshu Shukla Gave A Speech
The first Indian astronaut to visit the ISS, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, said a poignant goodbye before undocking. He praised the hardworking crew behind the Axiom-4 mission as “incredible.”
He reassured Indians in Hindi that India’s space aspiration continues even though the mission is coming to an end. He remarked, “Aapki aur meri yatra abhi bahut lambi hai.” “Aaj ka Bharat space se mahatvakanshi, nidar, confident, aur garv se poorn dikhta hai… abhi bhi saare jahaan se achha dikhta hai,” he continued, echoing Rakesh Sharma. His speech reflected the pride, aspirations, and future of India’s rising space endeavors.
Shubhanshu Shukla Made India Proud With His Return
It is very obvious that it is a powerful leap forward towards India’s space ambitions. Along with conducting important scientific experiments, he took the pride and dreams of a billion Indians with him when he became the first Indian to set foot on the International Space Station. In many ways, his journey is only getting started.
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