By Sulagna Halder
The SpaceX Dragon capsule Grace undocked from the International Space Station (ISS) on Monday, 14 July, marking the start of the return journey for the Axiom‑4 mission crew. The hatch was secured over the Harmony module at around 4:35 pm IST (7:05 am EDT), and the capsule began its descent toward a Pacific splashdown off California, expected around 3 pm IST (5:30 am EDT) on 15 July, with a one‑hour timing window, according to Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh.
The Axiom‑4 mission lifted off from Florida on 25 June, docking nearly 20 days later on 26 June. During their stay, Shukla and his colleagues, Mission Commander Peggy Whitson, Sławosz Uznanski‑Wisniewski, and Tibor Kapu, conducted seven ISRO designed microgravity experiments on areas such as astronaut mental health, microalgae cultivation, clothing resilience, VR applications, space farming, wearable health tech, and more, returning over 580 lb of scientific samples and NASA hardware.
Before boarding Grace, Shukla delivered a moving farewell from the station:
“41 years ago an Indian came to space and today’s India looks ambitious. looks fearless, looks full of pride, ‘saare jahan se acha.’”
He closed with:
“Our journey ahead into space exploration may be long and arduous, but it has begun.”
NASA hosted a formal farewell ceremony aboard the ISS on Sunday evening, attended by the Expedition 73 crew. With undocking confirmed, Grace will begin its 22 hour trek back, ending in a soft splashdown. Following recovery, Shukla will undergo a seven day rehabilitation programme to readapt to Earth’s gravity.
Back in Lucknow, Shukla’s family prepared for his return. Proud father Shambhu Dayal Shukla shared their temple visit offering prayers for his safe journey, while his mother and sister expressed both joy and anticipation.
The mission stands as a landmark in Indian space history: Shukla is the first ISRO astronaut aboard the ISS and only the second Indian ever in space since Rakesh Sharma’s 1984 mission. By completing ISRO experiments and demonstrating private-public collaboration, the mission offers vital insights for India’s upcoming Gaganyaan programme.
As Grace approaches Earth, global viewers, including family and supporters, will watch NASA’s live telecast of the final undocking and ocean entry. India, in turn, awaits a triumphant splashdown and the safe return of its pioneering astronaut.
