Axiom-4 space mission: Shubhanshu Shukla set for 3 pm splashdown on July 15; here's all you need to know

A highlight of Shubhanshu Shukla`s scientific contributions was his work on a microalgae experiment. Pic/X

Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the first Indian to visit the International Space Station (ISS), is set to return to Earth on July 15 following the conclusion of the 18-day Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4). He will undergo a seven-day rehabilitation programme post-splashdown off the California coast to readjust to Earth's gravity, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) informed.

Shukla, who served as pilot for the mission, travelled aboard SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft along with mission commander Peggy Whitson (NASA), and mission specialists Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski (Poland) and Tibor Kapu (Hungary), as part of the commercial Ax-4 mission launched on June 25 from NASA's Kennedy Space Center.

In Photos: Donald Trump tours Texas flood damage as disaster tests his pledge to do away with FEMA

4 months agoPHOTO GALLERY

The quartet is scheduled to undock from ISS on July 14, at 4.30 pm Indian IST, with live coverage beginning on NASA+, followed by streams from Axiom Space and SpaceX. Hatch closing will precede undocking, with the crew expected to enter the spacecraft at 2.25 pm IST. Following a series of deorbit manoeuvres, splashdown is expected around 3 pm IST on July 15.

"The Dragon spacecraft will return with more than 580 pounds of cargo, including NASA hardware and data from over 60 experiments conducted throughout the mission," NASA stated.

Commander Peggy Whitson posted on X: "Enjoying our last few days on the @Space_Station with rehydrated shrimp cocktails and good company! #Ax4."

Shukla had taken along a taste of home - carrot halwa and mango nectar (aamras) - on the voyage.

A highlight of Shukla's scientific contributions was his work on a microalgae experiment, deploying and later freezing samples to test their potential to provide oxygen, food, and biofuels for deep-space missions.

Axiom Space stated that the resilience of microalgae makes them a promising candidate for sustaining life beyond Earth.

Other research conducted by the Ax-4 and Expedition 73 crew included the Voyager Displays study on eye movement and spatial coordination, cognitive research via the Acquired Equivalence Test, and multiple human health experiments - spanning gut microbiota, immune response, muscular stimulation, and cerebral blood flow under microgravity and elevated CO₂ levels.

NASA also highlighted the use of the Rad Nano Dosimeter to monitor radiation exposure and the PhotonGrav study to assess brain activity for potential neuroadaptive technologies, useful both in space and on Earth.

ISRO confirmed that Shukla is in "good health and high spirit", with continuous monitoring by flight surgeons.

"Post splashdown, the Gaganyatri will undergo a rehabilitation program (about 7 days) under supervision of Flight Surgeon to adapt back to Earth's gravity," ISRO stated.

The space agency paid approximately Rs 550 crore for Shukla's mission, which it says will provide critical insights into planning its own human spaceflight initiative, Gaganyaan, expected to launch in 2027.

Shukla's journey marks a significant milestone in India's space exploration story, bridging international collaboration and scientific discovery with the ambitions of a future Indian-crewed mission.

(With ANI and PTI inputs)