After an 18-day mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS), the Axiom-4 (Ax-4) crew, including Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, is en route back to Earth, with splashdown expected off the coast of California. The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, named "Grace," undocked from the ISS on July 14, 2025, at 4:45 PM IST, marking the beginning of their 22.5-hour journey home.

The Ax-4 mission, a collaboration between Axiom Space, SpaceX, and NASA, launched on June 25, 2025, aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. The mission's crew consisted of commander Peggy Whitson, pilot Shubhanshu Shukla, and mission specialists Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski of Poland and Tibor Kapu of Hungary. This mission marked a significant milestone for India, Poland, and Hungary, representing each nation's first government-sponsored human spaceflight mission in over 40 years. Shubhanshu Shukla is the first Indian to reach the ISS via a private spaceflight.

During their time on the ISS, the Ax-4 crew conducted a wide array of scientific research, technology demonstrations, and outreach activities. The mission supported approximately 60 scientific studies and activities representing 31 countries, with a focus on microgravity research. Shukla himself conducted seven India-specific experiments during the mission. These experiments include studies of cognitive effects of screen use, microbial adaptation, muscle atrophy, and crop resilience in microgravity. The experiments also covered areas like cancer research, 3D printing, and DNA repair.

The return journey involves a series of carefully orchestrated steps. After undocking, the Dragon spacecraft performed engine burns to safely distance itself from the ISS and begin re-entry procedures. The descent of the Dragon spacecraft from the ISS is designed to be completely autonomous. Parachutes will deploy in two stages -- first stabilising chutes at about 5.7 km altitude, followed by the main parachutes at roughly two km.

Splashdown is anticipated to occur off the coast of California around 3:01 PM IST on July 15, 2025, but there is a margin window of approximately one hour. A specialized ship will recover the space capsule. Axiom Space is providing live coverage of the re-entry and splashdown on its website.

Upon their return, the astronauts will undergo a period of rehabilitation to readjust to Earth's gravity. According to ISRO, astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla successfully completed all seven microgravity experiments and other planned activities, achieving a significant milestone in the mission.

The successful completion of the Ax-4 mission represents a major step forward for commercial spaceflight and international collaboration in space exploration. It also provided a unique opportunity for the participating nations to advance their national space programs and contribute to scientific knowledge.