New Delhi: Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, currently aboard the International Space Station (ISS), is scheduled to begin his return journey to Earth on July 14 and land on July 15, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has confirmed.
Shukla will return along with fellow crew members Peggy Whitson, Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski, and Tibor Kapu. The team will undock from the Harmony module’s space-facing port in the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft to make their journey home.
“Following a series of orbital maneuvers after undocking, Crew Dragon spacecraft is expected to splashdown near the coast of California, US on July 15, 2025 at 15:00hrs (IST),” ISRO said in a statement.
"Gaganyatri Shubhanshu is in good health condition and in high spirit," the statement added.
IAF Group Captain Shukla is on a 14-day mission to the ISS, making history as the first Indian to visit the space station and the second Indian astronaut after Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma, who travelled to space in 1984.
During his stay aboard the ISS, Shukla has been conducting multiple microgravity experiments. These projects were developed through collaborations among ISRO, the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), and NASA.
The experiments included research on muscle loss, development of a brain-computer interface, and sprouting green gram and fenugreek seeds in space, among others.
“Gaganyatri Shubhanshu Shukla is actively advancing a suite of seven microgravity experiments as part of India’s participation in the Axiom-04 space mission. Amongst these four experiments have been successfully completed, and three are nearing completion,” ISRO said.
The four completed experiments include the Indian strain of tardigrades involving survival, revival, reproduction and transcriptome; myogenesis studying the impact of space environment on human muscle cells; sprouting of methi and moong seeds with relevance to crew nutrition; and a cyanobacteria experiment studying the growth of two varieties with relevance to life support systems.
These scientific efforts mark a major advancement in India’s space exploration ambitions and promise to yield crucial insights to support future missions under Gaganyaan, the Bhartiya Antariksha Station, and planetary exploration initiatives.
ISRO confirmed that the successfully completed experiments are being prepared for their return to Earth, where they will undergo further analysis.
“Three experiments that are nearing completion include studying microalgae, crop seeds, and voyager display,” the national space agency said.
Meanwhile, NASA’s blog post noted that the Ax-4 crew will spend Saturday finalising “science experiments including an electrical muscle stimulation study, testing suit fabrics that promote thermal comfort while exercising, and filming crew activities for a behavioural health study. On Sunday, they will begin packing science gear filled with research samples and loading personal items and other cargo inside Dragon for retrieval on Earth.”
Upon landing, Shukla and his fellow crew members will enter a rehabilitation programme of approximately seven days under the supervision of flight surgeons to readjust to Earth’s gravity.
“ISRO’s flight surgeons are continuously monitoring and ensuring the overall health and fitness of the Gaganyatri through participation in private medical/psychological conferences,” the space agency said.
(inputs from IANS)