Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla and his fellow Axiom-4 crewmates are scheduled to return to Earth from the International Space Station (ISS) on July 15, following a successful 14-day mission in orbit. The crew will undock from the ISS aboard the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft at 4:30 PM IST on July 14, with splashdown expected approximately 22.5 hours later off the coast of California in the Pacific Ocean, around 3:00 PM IST the next day.
Shukla, who launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on June 25 and docked with the ISS on June 26, became the second Indian to travel into space after Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma in 1984, and the first Indian to visit the ISS.
Before undocking, the crew will carry out a series of critical procedures including system checks on the Dragon capsule, verification of life support, communication, propulsion systems, and a thorough inspection to ensure airtight seals between the spacecraft and the ISS. Under the supervision of veteran US astronaut Peggy Whitson, the team will also secure scientific research materials and personal items for the return journey.
Once all systems are confirmed ready, the Dragon will transition into undocking mode. The process involves the disconnection of power and data umbilicals, followed by a sequence of controlled thruster burns to safely separate the capsule from the station.
Over the course of the mission, the Axiom-4 crew completed more than 60 scientific experiments, contributing valuable data to research in microgravity. The return of Shukla marks a significant milestone in India’s human spaceflight journey and strengthens international collaboration in space exploration.
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