Homecoming Joy for Indian Astronaut Shukla and Ax-4 Crew After ISS Mission
It was a proud and emotional moment on Tuesday as Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla returned to Earth, along with three fellow crew members of Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4), after completing a successful 18-day stay aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Their journey concluded with a smooth splashdown of their SpaceX Dragon capsule in the Pacific Ocean, off the coast of San Diego, at 3:02 p.m. IST.
The mission marks a significant step forward for India’s human spaceflight goals. Shukla, a Group Captain in the Indian Air Force, has been selected as one of the astronauts for India’s much-anticipated Gaganyaan mission. His time aboard the ISS served as a crucial milestone not only for his own training and experience but also for India's larger ambitions in space exploration.
The Dragon capsule had undocked from the ISS nearly a day earlier, on Monday, and completed a 23-hour journey back to Earth. The splashdown was followed by a well-coordinated recovery operation. About 50 minutes after landing, the astronauts were helped out of the spacecraft by the SpaceX medical and recovery team aboard the recovery ship, Shannon.
Leading the exit from the capsule was mission commander Peggy Whitson from the United States, a veteran astronaut. She was followed by Group Captain Shukla, who served as the pilot on the Ax-4 mission. Mission specialists Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski from Poland and Tibor Kapu from Hungary also exited the spacecraft with smiles, waves, and clear signs of relief and accomplishment.
Despite having spent nearly three weeks in microgravity, the crew appeared in good spirits as they underwent preliminary medical evaluations onboard the recovery vessel. Shukla will now undergo a week-long rehabilitation program under the care of ISRO's flight surgeons to help his body readjust to gravity.
The Ax-4 mission launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on June 25, after facing multiple delays. Once in orbit, the crew completed 320 orbits around Earth and traveled approximately 8.4 million miles. During their time on the ISS, they took part in more than 60 scientific research activities and participated in 23 outreach events to engage with audiences back on Earth.
Their return was precisely timed. At around 2:09 p.m. IST on Tuesday, the spacecraft began its deorbit burn – the crucial maneuver that begins the descent back to Earth. After an 18-minute burn, the Dragon jettisoned its trunk section, closed its nose cone, and began atmospheric re-entry. Drogue parachutes deployed first, followed by four main parachutes, ensuring a smooth descent.
Following splashdown, safety teams on fast boats reached the capsule to ensure there were no hazardous gases or materials present. Once the area was cleared, Shannon lifted the Dragon capsule out of the water and placed it securely on board.
The astronauts will now be flown by helicopter to land, and then onward to Houston, where they will reunite with their teams and begin post-mission debriefings. For Group Captain Shukla, this mission is a proud chapter in his journey toward India's first human spaceflight.
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