Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, who made history as the inaugural Indian astronaut to visit the International Space Station (ISS), is now en route back to Earth. The Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission's undocking from the ISS was broadcast live, showcasing the four-member crew's departure from the orbiting laboratory. The crew, which includes former NASA veteran Peggy Whitson, pilot Group Captain Shukla, Polish astronaut Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski, and Tibor Kapu from Hungary, is expected to achieve splashdown within 24 hours off the California coast.
Celebrating Group Captain Shukla's achievement, this mission marks him as only the second Indian to journey into space, following Rakesh Sharma, who flew aboard a Russian spacecraft in 1984. The Ax-4 mission, operated by Axiom Space, showcases a collaborative effort involving NASA, India's ISRO, the European Space Agency (ESA), and SpaceX.
As part of the mission protocol, ISS communicated that the Ax-4 crew was ready for departure with all hatches closed. Scheduled to make their descent at approximately 15:00 India time (09:30 GMT) on July 15, the spacecraft's journey will last about 22 hours before it reaches the ocean.
In a heartfelt farewell before leaving the ISS, Shukla emphasized the challenges yet to be faced in India's space exploration journey, recognizing the significance of this mission for future aspirations. He quoted a famous Urdu song, affirming that “today’s India looks ambitious, fearless, confident, and proud” from the viewpoint of space.
During their stay, which exceeded the initial projected timeline due to extensive scientific endeavors, the Ax-4 crew conducted 60 experiments, with participation from ISRO on seven distinct scientific studies. The agency had invested approximately 5 billion rupees ($59 million) to secure Shukla's place on the mission, emphasizing the experience's importance for India's future human spaceflight initiatives.
With the ambitious Gaganyaan mission slated for 2027 and plans to establish a space station by 2035 and a lunar mission by 2040, ISRO looks to build on this monumental achievement. Group Captain Shukla, born in Lucknow in 1985 and trained as a fighter pilot since 2006, expressed optimism for the future of India's space exploration, stating, "The best is yet to come." Following the mission, he invited all Indians to support the country's endeavor with their good wishes, symbolizing the dreams and aspirations borne by millions in the nation.
Celebrating Group Captain Shukla's achievement, this mission marks him as only the second Indian to journey into space, following Rakesh Sharma, who flew aboard a Russian spacecraft in 1984. The Ax-4 mission, operated by Axiom Space, showcases a collaborative effort involving NASA, India's ISRO, the European Space Agency (ESA), and SpaceX.
As part of the mission protocol, ISS communicated that the Ax-4 crew was ready for departure with all hatches closed. Scheduled to make their descent at approximately 15:00 India time (09:30 GMT) on July 15, the spacecraft's journey will last about 22 hours before it reaches the ocean.
In a heartfelt farewell before leaving the ISS, Shukla emphasized the challenges yet to be faced in India's space exploration journey, recognizing the significance of this mission for future aspirations. He quoted a famous Urdu song, affirming that “today’s India looks ambitious, fearless, confident, and proud” from the viewpoint of space.
During their stay, which exceeded the initial projected timeline due to extensive scientific endeavors, the Ax-4 crew conducted 60 experiments, with participation from ISRO on seven distinct scientific studies. The agency had invested approximately 5 billion rupees ($59 million) to secure Shukla's place on the mission, emphasizing the experience's importance for India's future human spaceflight initiatives.
With the ambitious Gaganyaan mission slated for 2027 and plans to establish a space station by 2035 and a lunar mission by 2040, ISRO looks to build on this monumental achievement. Group Captain Shukla, born in Lucknow in 1985 and trained as a fighter pilot since 2006, expressed optimism for the future of India's space exploration, stating, "The best is yet to come." Following the mission, he invited all Indians to support the country's endeavor with their good wishes, symbolizing the dreams and aspirations borne by millions in the nation.
