New Delhi: The countdown has begun for the return of Axiom Mission-4’s four-member crew, including India’s Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, who are scheduled to undock from the International Space Station (ISS) at 4:35 pm IST on Monday. Their journey back to Earth will take nearly 22.5 hours, with a splashdown expected off the coast of California the following day.
The return marks the end of a successful two-week stay aboard the ISS, where the crew conducted over 60 scientific experiments. Among these were seven experiments shortlisted by ISRO, as part of India’s collaborative contribution to the mission. The astronauts are also bringing back over 580 pounds (approx. 260 kg) of cargo, including critical NASA hardware and research data.
During a touching farewell ceremony on Sunday evening, pilot Shubhanshu Shukla reflected on India’s legacy in space exploration, recalling the iconic words of Rakesh Sharma from 1984. “Sare Jahan Se Achha—India still looks the same from up here,” Shukla said emotionally, referencing the poetry of Allama Iqbal.
Although the Dragon spacecraft’s operations are mostly automated, the timing of undocking and re-entry depends heavily on precise orbital calculations and weather conditions. The capsule will undock from the ISS’s Harmony module after all pre-departure checks and hatch closure procedures are completed, starting at 2 pm IST.
The Dragon’s journey includes a gradual descent from the ISS orbit of 400 kilometers above Earth. The spacecraft performs a series of carefully choreographed maneuvers—orbital alignment, orbit lowering, and a de-orbit burn—to adjust its trajectory. These steps are necessary to ensure a safe atmospheric re-entry, proper parachute deployment, and a pinpoint splashdown location.
NASA officials have indicated that the schedule includes a buffer margin of up to an hour to accommodate any last-minute adjustments due to weather or technical conditions.
Once splashdown is confirmed, recovery teams stationed nearby will move in within minutes to retrieve the crew and transport them to a medical base for preliminary health evaluations. These checks are essential for both immediate safety and long-term research into the effects of space travel on the human body.
The crew will then enter a mandatory 10-day quarantine period to help them readjust to Earth’s gravity after spending time in microgravity. This period also allows scientists to gather critical post-mission health data, further contributing to studies in space medicine and astronaut well-being.
Axiom Mission-4 was led by veteran astronaut Peggy Whitson and included Shubhanshu Shukla as the pilot, along with mission specialists Slawosz Uznanski of Poland and Tibor Kapu of Hungary. The mission was a collaborative private spaceflight initiative, with India’s ISRO investing approximately ₹550 crore.
The mission not only highlighted international cooperation in space exploration but also marked a significant step forward for India’s growing presence in human spaceflight programs.
As the Axiom-4 crew prepares for re-entry, their mission stands as a testament to the possibilities of public-private partnerships in space, and the powerful symbolism of India once again reaching for the stars.
