Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla Returns Home From Historic 18-Day Space Mission
Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla returned safely to Earth after spending 18 historic days on the International Space Station (ISS) aboard the Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission. The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft that brought Shukla and other crew members back splashed down in the Pacific Ocean off San Diego at 3:02 p.m. IST on Tuesday, completing its 22.5 hours of flight after undocking from the ISS on July 14.
Shukla served as the pilot of the Ax-4 mission, becoming the first Indian in space in over four decades, since Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma’s historic flight in 1984. He was joined by Commander Peggy Whitson (USA), and mission specialists Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski (Poland) and Tibor Kapu (Hungary).
While onboard the ISS, Ax-4 crew carried out more than 60 scientific experiments with 31 countries across a wide range of subjects, including space medicine, microgravity farming, and human physiology.
Shukla personally executed seven important experiments as mandated by ISRO, including:
• Effects of microgravity on muscle degradation
• Developmental patterns of methi and moong seeds under space
• Indian strains of tardigrades, cyanobacteria, and microalgae behavior
• Testing of an interactive Voyager Display in zero-gravity
• Research on Indian crop seeds in extraterrestrial space conditions
The crew was recovered by SpaceX's recovery vessel, Shannon, after landing and subjected to initial medical examinations before airlift for further examination. The team is currently traveling to Houston for post-mission debriefings.
ISRO assured that Shukla would go through a seven-day rehabilitation process to have his body readjusted to the Earth's gravity, routine post-flight treatment for astronauts who have been in space for long durations.
The Axiom-4 mission not only highlights India's increasing presence in space but also increases international cooperation between ISRO, NASA, and Axiom Space. It's regarded as a giant step towards India's future Gaganyaan mission, and Shukla's adventure has rekindled national interest in space travel.
Read more:
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla: First Indian in Space After 40 Years
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla Reaches ISS on Axiom-4 Mission
