Indian Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla Returns from ISS After Historic Axiom-4 Mission

In a historic moment for Indian space exploration, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, an Indian Air Force officer, successfully returned to Earth on July 15, 2025, after completing an 18-day mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS). He became the first Indian ever to set foot on the ISS and only the second Indian to travel into space, 41 years after cosmonaut Rakesh Sharma’s mission aboard a Soviet Soyuz spacecraft in 1984.

Group Captain Shukla was part of the Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) — a fully commercial human spaceflight operated by Axiom Space, in collaboration with NASA, ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation), ESA (European Space Agency), and SpaceX. The mission launched on June 25, 2025, aboard a Falcon-9 rocket from Florida, carrying the Dragon capsule, which docked at the ISS a day later on June 26.

The Ax-4 crew comprised four astronauts: mission commander Peggy Whitson (former NASA astronaut), Group Captain Shukla (pilot), Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski from Poland, and Tibor Kapu from Hungary. The crew was originally scheduled for a two-week stay on the ISS but ended up extending their mission to 18 days, returning after successfully completing multiple scientific experiments and international collaborations.

On July 14, 2025, the Ax-4 spacecraft undocked from the ISS, marking the start of their approximately 22.5-hour return journey to Earth. During undocking, ISS posted live updates, and Axiom Space announced that the spacecraft would generate a sonic boom — a brief, loud noise produced when an object travels faster than the speed of sound — just before splashdown off the coast of San Diego, California, which occurred successfully at 3:01 p.m. IST (2:31 a.m. PT) on July 15.

SpaceX confirmed the safe landing via a social media post:"Splashdown of Dragon confirmed – welcome back to Earth, @AstroPeggy, Shux, @astro_slawosz, and Tibi!"

Following the splashdown, recovery teams retrieved the capsule, and the crew was flown out by helicopter to land. Group Captain Shukla will now undergo a seven-day rehabilitation programme, a standard post-mission process to help astronauts readjust to Earth’s gravity after prolonged weightlessness in microgravity environments.

Significantly, during his time aboard the ISS, Group Captain Shukla conducted seven India-specific microgravity experiments, showcasing India’s advancing space science capabilities. These experiments, designed by ISRO, aim to generate critical data for future space missions — especially relevant to long-duration habitation, planetary exploration, and the upcoming Gaganyaan mission. In total, the Ax-4 crew completed 60 scientific experiments, many of which will contribute to global research in biology, materials science, and space medicine.

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The mission, dubbed "Akash Ganga", represents a pivotal collaboration between Axiom Space, NASA, ISRO, and other space agencies. ISRO invested approximately ₹5 billion (₹500 crore or $59 million) to secure Group Captain Shukla’s seat and training, viewing the experience as a foundational step toward India’s independent human spaceflight programme.

Speaking at the farewell ceremony aboard the ISS, Group Captain Shukla called the mission “truly incredible” and reflected on India’s aspirations in space:

“India’s journey in space exploration may be tough, but it has begun… From space, today’s India looks ambitious. It looks fearless. It looks confident. It looks proud. And so, I can once again say that today’s India still looks better than the rest of the world.”

This echoes Rakesh Sharma’s iconic remark from space in 1984, quoting the Urdu song “Saare Jahan Se Achha”, saying "India looks better than the rest of the world."

Group Captain Shukla’s participation in Ax-4 is expected to significantly enhance ISRO’s readiness for future missions. ISRO has announced its first-ever human spaceflight — Gaganyaan — is scheduled for 2027, followed by plans to establish the Bhartiya Antariksha Station by 2035, and an ambitious target to send an Indian astronaut to the Moon by 2040.

A career fighter pilot, Shukla was born on 10 October 1985 in Lucknow, and joined the Indian Air Force in 2006. He has flown various aircraft including MiGs, Sukhois, Dorniers, Jaguars, and Hawks, amassing over 2,000 hours of flying experience. Prior to the mission, Shukla described the last year of training as “nothing short of transformative,” adding:

“As I go into space, I carry not just instruments and equipment — I carry hopes and dreams of a billion hearts.”

He was one of four IAF officers shortlisted by ISRO for future human spaceflight missions, including Gaganyaan.

In conclusion, the Ax-4 mission is not only a technological and scientific achievement but also a symbolic leap for India’s space diplomacy, public-private collaboration, and global credibility in human spaceflight. It serves as a bridge between India's rich legacy in space exploration and its ambitious future trajectory

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