In a landmark moment for India’s space journey, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla and the Axiom-4 crew successfully splashed down in the Pacific Ocean aboard the Dragon spacecraft after completing an 18-day mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS).
The splashdown marks the end of a historic flight that saw Shukla become one of the first Indian astronauts to live and work on the ISS. The mission, launched by private space company Axiom Space, focused on scientific research, international collaboration, and microgravity experiments.
Launched on June 25 after multiple delays, the mission garnered widespread attention for its historic significance. Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, a seasoned Indian Air Force officer and astronaut with ISRO, secured his place in Indian space history by becoming only the second Indian to travel to space, following Rakesh Sharma’s iconic 1984 mission. More notably, Shukla became the first Indian to set foot aboard the International Space Station (ISS).
The spacecraft undocked from the ISS at around 4:50 pm IST on Monday, taking approximately 22.5 hours to complete its return journey. During their 18-day stay, the crew conducted over 60 scientific experiments. Commanded by Group Captain Shukla, the Axiom-4 spacecraft — named ‘Grace’ — completed a successful splashdown in the Pacific Ocean, according to NASA. Recovery boats were deployed to extract the crew safely, and initial medical checks were carried out. The astronauts will now be airlifted via helicopters and begin a re-acclimatisation process over the coming days.
This return mirrors the recent landing of Indian-origin US astronaut Sunita Williams and fellow astronaut Butch Wilmore, who completed a nine-month stay aboard the ISS in March. Their SpaceX capsule, ‘Freedom’, splashed down in the Atlantic Ocean near Florida.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared a message on X: “I join the nation in welcoming Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla as he returns to Earth from his historic mission to Space. As India’s first astronaut to have visited International Space Station, he has inspired a billion dreams through his dedication, courage and pioneering spirit."