After 18 days at the ISS, Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla and Axiom-4 crew are set to return to Earth aboard SpaceX’s Dragon capsule. Splashdown is expected off California on Tuesday. Shukla, India’s second astronaut in space, called the experience "incredible" and said today’s India is confident, fearless, and full of pride.
-1752479455772_d.png "Axiom-4 Mission: Shubhanshu Shukla and other Astronauts set to return to earth on Monday evening")
Shubanshu Shukla. Image/File Pic
The Axiom-4 mission is set to end successfully after 18 days. After 18 days of stay at the International Space Station (ISS), astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla and three others on the commercial Axiom-4 mission are set to return to Earth on Monday.
As reported by news agency PTI, Shubhanshu Shukla, who became the second Indian astronaut to travel to space after Rakesh Sharma's 1984 odyssey, will board the Dragon spacecraft at around 2 pm IST. Shukla will embark on the return journey two hours later and will reach Earth.
While addressing the Axiom-4 mission, the Axiom Space team asserted that "Undocking from the ISS is scheduled for no earlier than 6:05 am CT (4:35 pm IST). After a 22.5-hour journey back to Earth, the crew is expected to splash down off the coast of California at approximately 4:31 am CT (3:01 pm IST on Tuesday).”
It has also been reported that Expedition 73's astronauts organised a traditional farewell ceremony for the Axiom-4 crew, comprising Shukla, commander Peggy Whitson, and mission specialists Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski of Poland and Tibor Kapu of Hungary, on Sunday.
The Axiom-4 mission marked the return to space for India, Poland, and Hungary after over four decades.
Indian astronaut Shubanshu Shukla, during the farewell ceremony, said, "Jaldi hi dharti pe mulaqat karte hai (we will meet on earth soon)," as cited by news agency PTI.
The descent of the Dragon spacecraft from the International Space Station (ISS) is intended to be totally autonomous. After undocking, Dragon will conduct a series of engine burns to securely separate from the ISS and commence reentry procedures.
The final preparations will include disconnecting the capsule's trunk and positioning the heat shield for atmospheric entry, which will expose the spacecraft to temperatures approaching 1,600 degrees Celsius.
Parachutes will deploy in two stages: stabilising chutes at around 5.7 km altitude, followed by primary parachutes at around two km.
Furthermore, the splashdown is expected off the coast of California approximately 22.5 hours after undocking, and the space capsule will be recovered by a specialised ship.
Indian astronaut Shubanshu Shukla during the farewell ceremony recalled the time when his icon Rakesh Sharma had travelled to space 41 years ago and described how India looked from there.
Shukla said, "We all are still curious to know how India looks today from above. Aaj ka Bharat mahatvakanshi dikhta hai. Aaj ka Bharat nidar dikhta hai. Aaj ka Bharat confident dikhta hai. Aaj ka Bharat garv se purn dikhta hai. (Today's India looks full of ambition, fearless, confident, and full of pride)," as per news agency PTI.
"It is because of all these reasons that I can say it once again that today's India still looks 'saare jahan se accha,'" he added.
A formal farewell ceremony on the ISS on Sunday was marked by brief remarks by the Ax-4 crew, some of whom appeared to have gotten emotional as they hugged the members of Expedition 73, with whom new friendships were forged during the stay.
Shukla also asserted, "I didn't imagine all of this when I started on the Falcon-9 on June 25. I think it has been incredible because of the people involved. People standing behind me (the Expedition 73 crew) have made it really special for us. It was an incredible joy to be here and work alongside professionals like you."
Soon after their return to Earth, all four astronauts are expected to spend seven days in rehabilitation as they adjust back to life on Earth under the influence of gravity, unlike the weightlessness experienced in orbit.
(With PTI Inputs)
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