After a stay of nearly 20 days in the International Space Station (ISS), the Axiom-4 crew, including India’s Shubhanshu Shukla, has returned to Earth.
Embarking on a 23-hour journey back to Earth Monday, SpaceX’s Grace—its latest Crew Dragon capsule—undocked from the ISS at 4.45 pm IST, a 10-minute delay from the original plan, and fired thrusters twice to move away from the orbital laboratory. The capsule is expected to make splashdown off the California coast around 3 pm IST.
As part of the Axiom-4 mission, a private human spaceflight led by the US space company, Axiom Space, Indian Air Force group captain Shukla reached the ISS on 26 June, becoming the first Indian to set foot in the facility.
While the initial plan was a 14-day stay, the return of the Ax-4 crew was rescheduled last week for 14 June. During his stay at the ISS, Shukla led seven experiments developed by Indian research institutions, while also participating in over 60 scientific experiments in microgravity conditions.
LIVE UPDATES: Axiom-4 return
5.20 pm: Upon Shubhanshu Shukla’s return to India, scientists will study the results of the experiments he conducted in space. The results are expected to provide information for Indian human spaceflight programmes in future, which include the Gaganyaan series and more, planned later in 2025 and in 2026. Specifically, the experiments will provide data on human health in space.
From the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bengaluru, Shukla had taken an organism about half a millimetre in size—the Tardigrade, popularly known as Water Bears. They are known to thrive in extreme heat and cold, deep inside the ocean, even in volcanoes and radioactive environments.
Read all about the Tardigrade experiment in Ananthapathmanabhan’s report.
5.10 pm: The Axiom-4 mission is just another feather in the cap of Commander Peggy Whitson—earned for her space travels—but this time, the American astronaut also led three new astronauts. This is her fifth mission to the ISS. Only Russian astronaut Oleg Kononenko has been on the ISS as many times.
5.00 pm: “Very happy to see his big smile after he exited the spacecraft”: Shubhanshu Shukla’s sister Suchi Mishra reacts after his safe return from space.
VIDEO | "Very happy to see his big smile after he exited the Dragon spacecraft," says Shubhanshu Shukla's sister, Suchi Mishra, on his return as part of the Axiom-4 mission crew from the International Space Station (ISS).
(Full video available on PTI Videos -… pic.twitter.com/JXsU0yk2q5
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 15, 2025
4.40 pm: Axiom Space shares the key highlights of the Ax-4 Mission: “20 Mission Days, 320 Orbits Around the Earth, 8.4 M Miles of Spaceflight, Over 60 Research Activities, 23 Outreach Events”
A mission success! Learn more about the accomplishments of #Ax4. pic.twitter.com/FaiXB7DLgG
— Axiom Space (@Axiom_Space) July 15, 2025
4.30 pm: Shubhanshu Shukla reacts as Defence Minister Rajnath Singh extends his best wishes to the family.
#WATCH | Lucknow, UP | Shambhu Dayal Shukla, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla's father says, "We thank god for the safe landing of Shubhanshu Shukla…Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also blessed Shubhanshu Shukla and extended best wishes to us…" https://t.co/NbOJIRE0GP pic.twitter.com/9JJbA9ko4o
— ANI (@ANI) July 15, 2025
4.20 pm: Visuals of Shubhanshu Shukla emerging from the Dragon capsule.
#WATCH | Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla and Axiom-4 crew assisted out of the Dragon Spacecraft onto the recovery vehicle, after their return to the earth from the International Space Station 18 days later#AxiomMission4
(Video Source: Axiom Space/ YouTube) pic.twitter.com/f57N8K2qCa
— ANI (@ANI) July 15, 2025
4.10 pm: Now that they have landed, the crew members will be flown to Houston, Texas where they are expected to undergo a minimum of 7 days of quarantine to acclimatise their bodies after 19 days in zero gravity.
Read Akanksha Mishra’s report.
4.00 pm: Shubhanshu Shukla pulled out of the Dragon capsule.
3.50 pm: “We are very proud. We were afraid at first…”: Shubhanshu Shukla’s mother Asha Shukla reacts after his safe return to Earth.
#WATCH | Axiom-4 Mission | Lucknow | On Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla piloted Axiom 4 returns to Earth, his mother Asha Shukla says, "Excitement is endless and we are very proud. We were afraid at first… The upcoming generation should take inspiration and move ahead as… pic.twitter.com/bQPGAK6eO5
— ANI (@ANI) July 15, 2025
3.35 pm: Axiom-4 crew to step out of the Dragon capsule soon.
3.25 pm: Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomes Shubhanshu Shukla back to Earth.
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…
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 15, 2025
3.20 pm: Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla’s family celebrates after the Axiom-4 crew returns to Earth.
#WATCH | Axiom-4 Mission | Lucknow, UP: Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla's family rejoices and celebrates as he and the entire crew return to the earth after an 18-day stay aboard the International Space Station (ISS) https://t.co/FOshCfbQkW pic.twitter.com/Yzh4DEbuuR
— ANI (@ANI) July 15, 2025
3.10 pm: Axiom Space welcomes the Ax-4 crew back.
Welcome back to Earth, #Ax4! Today the Dragon spacecraft successfully splashed down marking the end of their successful mission to the International Space Station. pic.twitter.com/eeAyPCmWgG
— Axiom Space (@Axiom_Space) July 15, 2025
3.01 pm: Splashdown! Axiom-4 crew returns to Earth.
Splashdown of Dragon confirmed – welcome back to Earth, @AstroPeggy, Shux, @astro_slawosz, and Tibi!
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) July 15, 2025
2.55 pm: For six minutes during descent, the spacecraft loses contact and communications, which are restored after. The blackout occurs when the space craft re-enters the atmosphere, because of the air compression and plasma build-up around the spacecraft.
During this re-entry, the cabin remains cool because it is flushed with nitrous oxide, and spacesuits supplied with cool air to keep the crew comfortable.
Automatic parachutes will be deployed, reducing spacecraft’s speed and it moves towards the landing area.
2.50 pm: Previous Axiom crews have always returned to Earth with splashdown in the Atlantic Ocean. This is the first time it will take place in the Pacific Ocean. Exact location of splashdown expected to be San Diego in Southern California.
2.45 pm: The recovery ship is named ‘Shannon’. Once the Dragon spacecraft splashes down into the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California, the ship will help the crew come onboard.
The de-orbit burn, manouvers to bring the spacecraft out of the orbit on its way back to Earth, was completed at 2.26 pm.
Also Read: Explained: How SpaceX’s Crew Dragon will bring Shubhanshu Shukla and crew back to Earth