Shubhanshu Shukla, Ax-4 Crew Return After Historic 18-Day ISS Mission
Indian astronaut’s landmark journey closes as SpaceX Dragon begins descent back to Earth
The Final Leg Begins: Ax-4 Undocks from ISS
After a landmark 18-day stay aboard the International Space Station, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla and his fellow Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) crew members initiated their return to Earth on Monday, July 14, 2025, aboard the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft.
The autonomous undocking took place at 4:45 p.m. IST, slightly behind the initially scheduled time, as the capsule separated from the forward-facing port of the Harmony module. The return journey is set to conclude with a splashdown off the California coast around 3 p.m. IST on Tuesday, July 15, following a smooth 22.5-hour descent.
🧑🚀 How Shubhanshu Shukla Made History for India
The First Indian Aboard the ISS
Group Captain Shukla’s participation in the Ax-4 mission marks a historic milestone for India. Not only is he the first Indian astronaut to visit the ISS, but he is also the first Indian in space in over four decades, reigniting the nation’s long-held dreams of human space exploration.
Originally slated for a 14-day scientific and operational stay, the crew’s time aboard the ISS was extended, offering additional collaboration opportunities with the station’s ongoing research programs.
🚀 Meet the Global Ax-4 Crew
A Diverse Team of Trailblazers
The Ax-4 mission was notable not just for its technical feats but also for its multicultural representation:
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Commander Peggy Whitson (United States) – a NASA veteran and record-setting astronaut
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Pilot Shubhanshu Shukla (India) – Indian Air Force officer and ISRO-affiliated astronaut
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Mission Specialist Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski (Poland) – representing Polish science and innovation
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Mission Specialist Tibor Kapu (Hungary) – Hungary’s first astronaut candidate in modern history
Each astronaut brought national pride and collaborative scientific goals to the mission, underscoring the growing international dimension of commercial spaceflight.
🛰️ Departure Day Details: Precision in Motion
A Coordinated Exit from Orbit
On Monday afternoon, the crew suited up in their SpaceX pressure suits and boarded the Dragon capsule on schedule. The hatch was officially sealed at 2:37 p.m. IST, setting the stage for undocking.
A brief delay postponed the departure, but by 4:45 p.m. IST, the spacecraft began its automated detachment, completing a series of departure burns to slowly back away from the space station’s orbit.
💬 Voices from the Mission
“It’s an emotional moment. Representing India in this crew and seeing the Earth from above has been the honor of a lifetime,”
— Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, shortly before undocking
“These missions are a reminder that space belongs to all of us. This crew shows what global partnership looks like,”
— Commander Peggy Whitson
🌎 What’s Next: Earth Awaits
Splashdown Scheduled Near California Coast
As Dragon continues its descent, it will re-enter Earth’s atmosphere early Tuesday afternoon IST, with a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean anticipated at around 3:00 p.m. IST (5:30 a.m. EDT) near the California coast.
Following recovery operations by SpaceX teams, the crew will undergo post-mission medical checks before being transported to Houston for debriefing.
🌐 Axiom-4: A Commercial Space Milestone
Bridging Public and Private Exploration
The Ax-4 mission is part of a broader trend in commercial human spaceflight, led by Axiom Space in partnership with NASA and SpaceX. The mission illustrates how private companies are enabling scientific, diplomatic, and inspirational journeys beyond Earth’s atmosphere.
🔭 Why This Mission Matters for India
With the success of Shubhanshu Shukla’s mission, India’s presence in global space leadership is reaffirmed. It sets the stage for future collaborations and boosts momentum for ISRO’s own human spaceflight program, Gaganyaan, expected to launch soon.
This mission also fuels youth interest in STEM, showing that Indian astronauts have a role to play on the world stage — not just as observers, but as leaders.
📅 Looking Ahead
As the world watches Dragon descend toward the Pacific, the Ax-4 mission will be remembered not just for its scientific success, but for what it represented: unity in exploration, courage in leadership, and the shared dream of reaching for the stars.
NewsCoper will continue to follow updates as recovery efforts conclude and the Ax-4 astronauts return home.
Stay tuned for splashdown confirmation and post-landing reports.