By Sulagna Halder
NEW DELHI:
Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla made history on Tuesday as he returned safely to Earth following an 18 day stay aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Shukla, the pilot of the Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4), became the first Indian astronaut to visit the ISS, marking a major milestone in India’s space exploration journey.
The SpaceX Dragon capsule carrying the four member crew successfully splashed down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Southern California at 3:01 p.m. IST (2:31 a.m. Pacific Time). The crew’s return was confirmed by SpaceX in a social media post: “Splashdown of Dragon confirmed: welcome back to Earth, @AstroPeggy, Shux, @astro_slawosz, and Tibi!”
The Ax-4 mission was launched by Axiom Space and included Commander Peggy Whitson, a veteran NASA astronaut; Shubhanshu Shukla of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO); Slawosz “Suave” Uznanski Wisniewski, a project astronaut from the European Space Agency (ESA) representing Poland; and Tibor Kapu of Hungary’s HUNOR programme.
The crew departed from the orbiting laboratory aboard the SpaceX Dragon capsule on 14 July 2025, concluding a mission that involved research, scientific outreach, and international collaboration. The journey back to Earth took approximately 22.5 hours.
Group Captain Shukla will now undergo a seven day rehabilitation and health monitoring programme following his return. This recovery phase is standard for astronauts re-adapting to Earth’s gravity after extended periods in microgravity.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed Shukla’s return and lauded the significance of his journey. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), he wrote:
“I join the nation in welcoming Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla as he returns to Earth from his historic mission to Space. As India’s first astronaut to have visited International Space Station, he has inspired a billion dreams through his dedication, courage and pioneering spirit. It marks another milestone towards our own Human Space Flight Mission – Gaganyaan.”
The Ax-4 mission is a landmark in India’s expanding role in global space exploration and reflects growing international partnerships. Axiom Space’s missions are designed to promote private space travel while also fostering collaboration between space agencies and commercial partners.
During their 18 day stay at the ISS, the Ax-4 crew conducted multiple experiments in microgravity conditions and participated in educational outreach activities, connecting with students across the globe to share insights on life and science in space.
Shubhanshu Shukla’s inclusion in the Ax-4 mission is being hailed as a critical step in building India’s astronaut corps and expertise ahead of ISRO’s ambitious Gaganyaan mission, which aims to send Indian astronauts into low-Earth orbit on an indigenously developed spacecraft.
As Group Captain Shukla begins his post mission recovery, his successful journey continues to inspire pride and excitement in India’s growing space ambitions.
