Shukla's mission, part of the Axiom-4 program, demonstrated India's evolving role in space exploration and included significant scientific research.
**Historic Return: First Indian Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla Heads Back From ISS**
**Historic Return: First Indian Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla Heads Back From ISS**
Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla concludes his groundbreaking journey as the first Indian to visit the International Space Station.
Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, marking a historic milestone as the first Indian to visit the International Space Station (ISS), is now returning to Earth. The live broadcast captured the moment when the Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission undocked from the ISS with its four-member team on Monday, with a splashdown expected within the next 24 hours. The mission, led by former NASA veteran Peggy Whitson and piloted by Group Captain Shukla, included astronauts Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski from Poland and Tibor Kapu from Hungary.
Group Captain Shukla is only the second Indian in history to reach space, following Rakesh Sharma's flight onboard a Russian Soyuz in 1984. Axiom Space, a Houston-based private firm, operates Ax-4 in collaboration with NASA, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), the European Space Agency (ESA), and SpaceX. The ISS announced the undocking on social media, stating that the crew had secured their seats and closed the hatches, with the craft expected to splash down off the Californian coast. The splashdown is scheduled for 15 July at approximately 15:00 IST (09:30 GMT).
In a touching farewell message from the ISS, Shukla acknowledged the challenges ahead for India's space journey while also expressing optimism and pride. He reflected on Rakesh Sharma’s famous words, emphasizing India’s potential and ambition as seen from space. "Today's India looks ambitious, fearless, confident, and proud," he proclaimed.
Originally intended to spend two weeks at the ISS, Ax-4 stayed a few days longer, during which the crew conducted over 60 scientific experiments, including several developed by ISRO. The organization invested 5 billion rupees (approximately $59 million) to secure Shukla's seat and his training, viewing this mission as a crucial step towards India's future human space flights.
ISRO has unveiled plans for Gaganyaan, India's inaugural human space mission set for 2027, and aims to establish a space station by 2035, with aspirations to send an astronaut to the Moon by 2040. Shukla, initially shortlisted from a group of four Indian Air Force officers, joined the air force as a fighter pilot in 2006, flying various aircraft and accumulating over 2,000 flight hours.
Reflecting on his transformative journey before launch, Shukla shared, "It has been an amazing journey so far, but the best is yet to come," echoing the hopes and dreams of a billion citizens as he ascended to the stars.
