Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, India's "Gaganyatri," has returned to Earth after a historic 18-day mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS). His journey marks a momentous occasion for India, solidifying its position in the global space arena. The SpaceX Dragon capsule, named "Grace," carrying Shukla and three other crew members, splashed down safely off the coast of San Diego, California, at approximately 3:01 PM IST on July 15, 2025.
Shukla's mission as part of Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4), a collaboration between NASA, SpaceX, and ISRO, is a significant step towards India's own human spaceflight program, Gaganyaan. He is the first astronaut from ISRO to visit the ISS and the second Indian to travel to space, following Rakesh Sharma's mission in 1984. Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed Shukla's return, stating that he has "inspired a billion dreams".
The Ax-4 mission, launched on June 25, 2025, from the Kennedy Space Center, saw Shukla and the crew conduct experiments in medicine, agriculture, and space exploration. As the mission pilot, Shukla played a crucial role in operating the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft, overseeing its launch, docking, undocking, and re-entry. During their 18 days on the orbital outpost, the Ax-4 crew engaged in over 60 scientific experiments, many of which were India-led. These experiments spanned various disciplines, including life sciences, materials research, Earth observation, and technology development. Shukla's participation in the Sprouts Project, which studies plant growth in microgravity, could lead to breakthroughs in sustainable farming in space.
The return journey from the ISS took approximately 22.5 hours. The Dragon spacecraft undocked from the ISS on July 14, 2025, at around 4:45 PM IST. The capsule's de-orbit burn began on July 15 at 2:07 PM IST, followed by its descent towards Earth, deploying drogue and main parachutes before splashdown. Upon splashdown, the crew was retrieved by recovery teams and underwent medical checks on a ship before being transported to shore for further evaluations.
Following his return, Shukla will undergo a period of rehabilitation and debriefing. Union Minister Jitendra Singh stated that Shukla is expected to arrive in India around August 17, after completing post-mission procedures. These procedures include quarantine to acclimatize to gravity, team discussions with ISRO experts, and debriefing sessions with representatives from Axiom Space, SpaceX, and NASA. NASA and the Indian Air Force will closely monitor his physical and mental health in the coming weeks.
Shukla's mission has provided ISRO with valuable hands-on experience in spacecraft systems integration, ground communication protocols, and emergency response procedures. The scientific outcomes of his experiments will also contribute to mission design and academic and industrial research in India.
Shukla's journey has ignited excitement and pride among Indian youth, who view him as an inspiration. His return is not just a personal achievement but a significant leap for India's space program, paving the way for future independent human spaceflight capabilities.
