Shubhanshu Shukla to Return to Earth Today After Historic 14-Day Mission

Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla of the Indian Air Force is set to begin his journey back to Earth today, marking the end of a landmark mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Shukla is India’s first astronaut to visit the ISS and only the second Indian to travel to space after Rakesh Sharma's mission in 1984.

Shukla, part of the Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) crew, will depart the ISS aboard SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft along with fellow astronauts Peggy Whitson, Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski, and Tibor Kapu. The spacecraft is scheduled to undock from the Harmony module’s zenith port at 7:05 a.m. ET (4:35 p.m. IST). The crew is expected to splash down several hours later in the Pacific Ocean near the California coast.

NASA’s Commercial Crew Program Manager Steve Stitch confirmed the planned undocking during a recent press briefing, stating, “We are closely monitoring the progress of the Ax-4 mission and are targeting July 14 for the return.”

Over his 14-day mission, Shukla conducted several space experiments designed by Indian researchers to support ISRO’s upcoming Gaganyaan human spaceflight programme. His work included studies on muscle atrophy in microgravity, the development of brain-computer interface systems, and plant biology experiments with green gram and fenugreek seeds to understand seed germination in space.

Apart from his scientific contributions, Shukla also interacted with students from Kerala and Lucknow through live video sessions, responding to questions about daily life aboard the space station—covering everything from meals and sleeping in zero gravity to dealing with sickness in space. Reflecting on life in orbit, Shukla said, “It’s actually fun—because there’s no floor or ceiling in space. You might see someone sleeping on the wall, or even the ceiling.”

Also Read: ‘Jai Hind, Jai Bharat’: Shubhanshu Shukla’s First Message from ISS