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Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, along with three other crew members from the Axiom-4 mission, is set to return to Earth. Their spacecraft, Dragon 'Grace,' will splash down near San Diego, California. The team includes commander Peggy Whitson and mission specialists Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski from Poland and Tibor Kapu from Hungary.
The Dragon spacecraft detached from the International Space Station at 4:45 pm IST on Monday. The return journey is expected to conclude with a splashdown approximately 22.5 hours after undocking. A specialised ship will recover the capsule once it lands in the Pacific Ocean.
Mission Highlights and Achievements
The Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) crew has completed nearly 230 orbits around Earth, covering over six million miles (96.5 lakh kms). This mission has conducted more research than any previous Axiom Space private astronaut mission, with over 60 experiments in various fields such as biomedical science, advanced materials, neuroscience, agriculture, and space technology.
During their time aboard the International Space Station (ISS), Shubhanshu Shukla and his team witnessed at least 230 sunrises. They travelled almost 100 lakh kms in space over two weeks on the orbital laboratory.
Preparations for Re-entry
As part of final preparations for re-entry into Earth's atmosphere, the capsule's trunk will be detached. The heat shield will be oriented ahead of atmospheric entry to withstand temperatures approaching 1,600 degrees Celsius. Parachutes have been deployed in two stages: stabilising chutes at about 5.7 km altitude followed by main parachutes at roughly two km.
The de-orbit burn is scheduled for 2:07 pm IST over the Pacific Ocean as the spacecraft re-enters Earth's atmosphere. This critical manoeuvre ensures a safe descent back to Earth.
Impact on India's Space Programme
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) emphasised that this 15-day mission plays a vital role in India's first manned spaceflight under the Gaganyaan programme. The knowledge gained from this mission will contribute significantly to future endeavours.
Upon landing on Earth, Shubhanshu Shukla and his crew will undergo a seven-day quarantine period. This precautionary measure helps astronauts readjust to Earth's environment after their time in space.
Community Support and Excitement
The President of Akhil Bharatiya Akhada Parishad, Mahant Ravindra Puri expressed excitement about Shubhanshu Shukla's return: "We all are very excited today...We have offered prayers for the safe return of Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla to Earth..."
The Dragon spacecraft initially docked at the ISS on June 26 following a 28-hour journey from its launch site at Kennedy Space Centre in Florida on June 25.
