Kashmir, July 15, 2025 – The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, named ‘Grace,’ carrying Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla and the Axiom-4 (Ax-4) crew, successfully undocked from the International Space Station (ISS) on July 14, 2025, at 4:45 PM IST, embarking on a 22.5-hour journey back to Earth. The crew, comprising mission commander Peggy Whitson (USA), mission specialists Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski (Poland) and Tibor Kapu (Hungary), and pilot Shukla, splashed down in the Pacific Ocean off San Diego, California, at approximately 3:01 PM IST on July 15, concluding an 18-day mission aboard the ISS.
Shukla, the first Indian to visit the ISS and the second Indian in space after Rakesh Sharma’s 1984 mission, marked a historic milestone for India’s space program. During the mission, the crew completed over 310 orbits, covering 12.2 million kilometers, and conducted 60 scientific experiments, including seven ISRO-backed microgravity studies on muscle regeneration, microalgae, tardigrades, and sprouting methi and moong seeds. These experiments, critical for India’s Gaganyaan program, aimed to enhance understanding of human biology and plant growth in space. Shukla’s farewell message from the ISS echoed Sharma’s iconic words: “Today’s India looks ambitious, fearless, confident, and full of pride… still Saare Jahan Se Accha.”
The Dragon spacecraft executed a series of departure burns to exit the ISS’s safety zones, including the 4-km approach ellipsoid and 200-meter keep-out sphere, before performing a de-orbit burn at 2:07 PM IST. The capsule endured temperatures up to 2,500°C during re-entry, with parachutes deploying in two stages—stabilizing chutes at 5.7 km and main parachutes at 2 km—for a controlled splashdown at 27 km/h. A SpaceX recovery vessel retrieved the crew, who underwent initial medical checks before being airlifted to shore for a seven-day rehabilitation program to readjust to Earth’s gravity.
The mission, a collaboration between NASA, ISRO, Axiom Space, and SpaceX, cost India approximately ₹550 crore ($65–70 million), sparking discussions about its value given India’s ongoing Gaganyaan development. ISRO officials, including Nilesh M. Desai, defended the investment, citing critical training and international collaboration benefits. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Minister Jitendra Singh lauded Shukla’s achievement, with Singh noting, “The entire nation awaits your arrival back home,” reflecting national pride.
In Lucknow, Shukla’s family celebrated with prayers and decorations, his mother Asha Shukla reciting Sundarkand and his father Shambhu Dayal calling it a “historic moment.” The splashdown, preceded by a sonic boom, was live-streamed on NASA TV and SpaceX’s platforms, captivating global audiences. This mission underscores India’s growing space ambitions, paving the way for Gaganyaan’s 2027 crewed flight and a planned lunar mission by 2040.
