Shubhanshu Shukla likely to arrive in India by Aug 17 after post-mission protocols
The four astronauts are expected to spend seven days in rehabilitation as they adjust back to life on Earth under the influence of gravity
Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla and three others of the commercial Axiom-4 mission made a fiery return to Earth as the Dragon 'Grace' spacecraft made a splash down off San Diego coast in southern California on Tuesday (July 15), capping a 22.5-hour journey after an 18-day stay at the International Space Station.
The spacecraft carrying Shukla, commander Peggy Whitson, and mission specialists Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski of Poland and Tibor Kapu of Hungary, undocked from the space station at 4:45 pm IST on Monday.
"Splashdown of Dragon confirmed - welcome back to Earth, @AstroPeggy, Shux, @astro_slawosz, and Tibi," SpaceX said in a post on X.
Speed boats of SpaceX, the transporter for the mission, were seen moving towards the spacecraft to bring it to recovery ship Shannon where the astronauts will brought out from the capsule.
The Axiom-4 crew will undergo a series of medical checks on board the ship before boarding a helicopter for a ride back to the shore.
The four astronauts are expected to spend seven days in rehabilitation as they adjust back to life on Earth under the influence of gravity, unlike the weightlessness experienced in orbit. PTI
Follow Live updates below:
Live Updates
- 15 July 2025 8:51 PM IST
Shubhanshu Shukla likely to return to India by Aug 17: Union minister
Union minister Jitendra Singh said Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, who on Tuesday returned to Earth after an 18-day stay aboard the International Space Station (ISS), is expected to arrive in India by August 17 following a series of post-mission procedures.
"There are certain SOPs to be followed... His rehabilitation, debriefing sessions and a series of discussions with Team ISRO. We might expect him in Delhi by August 17," Singh told PTI.
Calling the mission "unprecedented", Singh said the experiments conducted by Shukla during his stay in the orbital laboratory were closely linked to human survival and life in microgravity.
"These experiments will be useful not just for Indians, but for all of humanity," he said.
"It is a moment of immense joy for India that a worthy son of Bharat Mata has returned successfully today," Singh said.
