Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla and his three Axiom-4 crewmates began their journey back to Earth on Monday after spending 18 days aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Their spacecraft, Dragon Grace, undocked from the ISS at 4:45 pm IST, ten minutes later than planned, marking the end of a milestone mission that saw Shukla become the second Indian to travel to space and the first to visit the ISS.
Shukla was part of a four-member crew including commander Peggy Whitson, Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski from Poland, and Tibor Kapu from Hungary. Since docking on June 26, they spent around 433 hours in orbit, circling the Earth 288 times and covering nearly 7.6 million miles.
Two hours before undocking, the astronauts entered the Dragon spacecraft, wore their spacesuits, and sealed the hatch at 2:37 pm IST. They were given a warm send-off by the Expedition 73 crew, who hosted a traditional farewell ceremony. Emotions were high as the astronauts shared hugs and thanked one another. Shukla, during the event, said, “Jaldi hi dharti pe mulaqat karte hain” (we will meet on Earth soon).
The journey back will take around 22.5 hours, with the splashdown scheduled off the California coast at 3:01 pm IST on Tuesday. The crew removed their suits for comfort during the ride but will wear them again before de-orbit procedures begin. Re-entry will expose the spacecraft to intense heat of nearly 1,600 degrees Celsius. Parachutes will deploy in two stages—first at 5.7 km and then at about 2 km altitude to ensure a smooth landing.
Once back, the astronauts will undergo a week-long rehabilitation program to help their bodies readjust to Earth’s gravity after nearly three weeks in a weightless environment.
During the farewell, Shukla reflected on the legacy of Rakesh Sharma, India’s first astronaut, and said that he too wanted to describe how India looks from space. “Aaj ka Bharat mahatvakankshi dikhta hai. Aaj ka Bharat nidar dikhta hai. Aaj ka Bharat confident dikhta hai. Aaj ka Bharat garv se pooran dikhta hai,” he said, meaning today’s India looks ambitious, fearless, confident, and full of pride. He concluded by saying, “Today’s India still looks ‘Saare jahan se achha’.”
The Axiom-4 mission marked a return to space for India, Poland, and Hungary after over four decades. For India, the mission holds great significance as it builds experience for ISRO’s upcoming human spaceflight program, Gaganyaan, scheduled for launch in 2027. ISRO paid around ₹550 crore for Shukla’s participation, making it an investment into the country’s future in space exploration.
Shukla’s journey has not only been a personal achievement but also a historic milestone for India’s growing space ambitions.
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