Axiom-4 crew including Shubhanshu Shukla heads home, splashdown tomorrow
The Dragon Grace spacecraft has undocked from the International Space Station, beginning its 22-hour journey back to Earth; splashdown expected at 3 pm IST tomorrow
India’s Shubhanshu Shukla, along with three other astronauts from the Axiom-4 mission, has begun the return journey to Earth after an 18-day stay at the International Space Station.
The Dragon Grace spacecraft has undocked from the International Space Station, beginning its 22-hour journey back to Earth. The splashdown is expected off the coast of California at 3 pm IST on Tuesday.
“The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft undocked at 7:15 a.m. EDT from the space-facing port of the International Space Station’s Harmony module, completing the fourth private astronaut mission to the orbiting laboratory, Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4). Dragon is slowly manoeuvring away from the station into an orbital track that will return the crew and its cargo safely to Earth, targeting a splashdown off the coast of California on Tuesday, July 15,” said NASA in a statement.
The Dragon spacecraft is returning with more than 580 pounds of cargo, including NASA hardware and data from over 60 experiments conducted during the mission, said the American space agency.
Earlier, Commander Peggy Whitson, mission pilot Shubhanshu 'Shux' Shukla, and Mission Specialists Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski and Tibor Kapu were seen boarding the Dragon Grace spacecraft, fully suited for their return to Earth. The hatch connecting the spacecraft to the International Space Station (ISS) was closed at 2:37 PM, followed by final checks conducted by the crew.
Also read:
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Live Updates
- 14 July 2025 4:35 PM IST
Splashdown expected at 3 pm tomorrow
Splashdown is expected off the coast of California approximately 22.5 hours after undocking, and the space capsule will be recovered by a specialised ship.
The splashdown is expected to take place off the coast of California at 3:01 pm IST on Tuesday. (PTI)
- 14 July 2025 4:13 PM IST
Ax-4 undocking: Final checks complete
Ax-4 mission is all set to undock from the Space Station. The team have completed final checks and everything looks good for the separation.
- 14 July 2025 3:49 PM IST
Prayers, pride and excitement: Shubhanshu's family await his return
As astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla is set to begin his journey back to Earth after completing his 18-day stay aboard the International Space Station, his family in Lucknow is eagerly awaiting his safe return, saying they are filled with immense pride and emotion about the entire experience.
They said it was a joy for them to have seen Shubhanshu, "like a child", show them sights from space but now it was time for some nervous excitement and prayers in the family as the Axiom-4 mission undocks from the ISS on Monday and is expected to splashdown off the California coast on Tuesday.
Speaking to PTI Videos at their residence in Lucknow on Monday, Shubhanshu's father, Shambhu Dayal Shukla, said, "We thank the people and the Honourable Prime Minister for blessing our son.
"His mission is coming to an end and we are all ready to welcome him back, even though we won't meet him immediately as he will first go to the US. We are looking forward to seeing him soon," he said.
Recounting their conversations when Shubhanshu was aboard the ISS, Shambhu Dayal shared fascinating details of his son's stay at the space station."He showed us where he lives, works, and sleeps in space. There's no walking there—people float from one place to another. They sleep standing, strapped in place with belts."
- 14 July 2025 3:46 PM IST
Shubhanshu, other Axiom-4 astronauts board spacecraft for return to earth
Shubhanshu Shukla and three other astronauts of the Axiom-4 entered the Dragon Grace spacecraft on Monday and were suited up to begin their journey back to Earth after an 18-day stay at the International Space Station.
Shukla, the mission pilot, commander Peggy Whitson, and mission specialists Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski of Poland and Tibor Kapu of Hungary entered the Dragon Grace spacecraft and donned their space suits for the 22.5-hour journey to Earth.
The hatch of the Dragon Grace spacecraft that connected it to the International Space Station was closed at 2:37 PM IST and the crew members were performing final checks before undocking from the orbital laboratory at 4:35 PM IST.
After undocking, Dragon will perform a series of engine burns to safely distance itself from the ISS and begin re-entry procedures. PTI
