Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is preparing to undock from the International Space Station (ISS) on Monday, July 14, 2025, as part of the Axiom-4 mission. The undocking is scheduled for 4:30 PM IST, with the Crew Dragon spacecraft expected to splashdown near the coast of California at 3:00 PM IST on July 15, 2025. Following the splashdown, Shukla will undergo a seven-day rehabilitation program to readjust to Earth's gravity under the supervision of flight surgeons.

During his time on the ISS, Shukla has been actively involved in a suite of seven microgravity experiments. ISRO announced that four of these experiments have been successfully completed, and the remaining three are nearing completion. The completed experiments are being prepared for their return journey to Earth for further analysis.

The four completed experiments include:

• Tardigrades: Studying the survival, revival, reproduction, and transcriptome of an Indian strain of tardigrades in microgravity. This experiment aims to improve understanding of extremophile resilience and potential therapeutic applications on Earth.
• Myogenesis: Investigating the impact of the space environment on human muscle cells. Insights from this experiment could lead to new rehabilitation therapies for muscle-related disorders on Earth.
• Sprouting: Examining the sprouting of methi (fenugreek) and moong (green gram) seeds, which is relevant to crew nutrition. The findings are expected to contribute to the development of food supplements for astronauts and explore the medicinal benefits of these sprouts in a microgravity environment. Shukla contributed carrot halwa and mango nectar to a gathering, showing his dedication to crew nutrition.
• Cyanobacteria: Studying the growth of two varieties of cyanobacteria, which is relevant to life support systems.

The three experiments nearing completion include:

• Microalgae: Understanding the growth and adaptation of microalgae in space, with potential applications for life support systems such as food, fuel, and air production in future space habitats. Shukla deployed and stowed microalgae samples, recognizing their potential to supply food, oxygen, and biofuels for deep-space missions.
• Crop Seeds: Identifying plants with desirable traits for genetic analysis in support of sustainable farming in space. Shukla captured images for this experiment, which involves growing six varieties of crop seeds over multiple generations post-mission.
• Voyager Displays: Investigating how spaceflight affects eye movement, gaze coordination, and pointing accuracy. The astronauts continued this study, gathering data on how astronauts perceive and interact with their environment in orbit.

In addition to these experiments, Shukla participated in an experiment to monitor radiation levels aboard the ISS, which is expected to support protective strategies for astronauts on missions farther from Earth. He also contributed to the AstroMentalHealth study, which focused on astronauts' mental and behavioral health during human spaceflight missions.

ISRO's flight surgeons are continuously monitoring and ensuring Shukla's overall health and fitness through participation in private medical and psychological conferences. ISRO has confirmed that Shukla is in good health and in high spirits.

The Dragon spacecraft is expected to return with over 580 pounds of cargo, including NASA hardware and data from more than 60 experiments conducted during the mission. The Axiom-4 mission has seen the crew experience over 230 sunrises from space, traveling nearly 100 lakh km.

ISRO paid approximately Rs 550 crore for Shukla's travel to the ISS, an experience that will help the space agency in planning and execution of its human spaceflight program, Gaganyaan, set to take to orbit in 2027. These Indian-led microgravity experiments represent a significant leap in space science and technology, contributing critical knowledge to support Gaganyaan, Bhartiya Antariksha Station, and future planetary missions.