Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, India’s newest space hero, is expected to splash down on Earth today. Today at 3 PM IST, ending an 18-day journey aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Traveling as part of the Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission, in collaboration with SpaceX and NASA. Shukla’s flight marks a historic chapter in India’s space ambitions. He is the first Indian astronaut to participate in a private space mission and only the second Indian to travel to space, after Rakesh Sharma’s iconic 1984 flight.
In an emotional farewell broadcast from the orbiting ISS, Shukla reflected on how far India has come. “Today’s India looks ambitious from space, today’s India looks fearless, today’s India looks confident, today’s India looks full of pride… today’s India still looks ‘saare jahan se acha,’” he said. Alternating between English and Hindi, his speech echoed the pride of a billion Indians. He acknowledged the long journey India faces in space exploration but emphasized that it has well and truly begun.
While aboard the ISS, Shukla conducted a number of critical experiments, laying the groundwork for future long-duration space missions. One of his key areas of focus was the study of microalgae in microgravity. These tiny organisms have the potential to support human life in space by producing food, oxygen, and even biofuels. Shukla also carried out centrifugation studies on cyanobacteria. To comparing two different strains to see how microgravity affects their growth and biochemical behavior. His research also extended to observing muscle loss, digestion, and mental well-being under space conditions. These experiments vital to future missions like ISRO’s Gaganyaan.
Shukla and the Ax-4 crew undocked from the ISS at 4:35 PM IST on July 14. Their SpaceX Dragon capsule is currently making its way back to Earth and is expected to land in the Pacific Ocean near San Diego, California, at around 3 PM IST on July 15. The spacecraft will undergo a fiery reentry, with temperatures soaring to around 1,600°C. As it approaches Earth, a brief sonic boom will announce its arrival before parachutes deploy for a controlled splashdown. Weather conditions at the landing site remain favorable, and recovery teams are already on standby.
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Shukla’s participation in the Ax-4 mission is more than symbolic, it’s strategic. It offers India firsthand experience in human spaceflight ahead of the much-anticipated Gaganyaan mission, which aims to send Indian astronauts into space aboard an indigenous vehicle. Though this mission was made possible through U.S.-India collaboration announced during PM Modi’s 2023 visit to Washington, it aligns directly with India’s long-term space goals. This mission bridges the gap between training and execution, making Shukla’s journey a stepping stone toward India’s independent presence in human space exploration.
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