Shubhanshu and crew hours away from touching down; undocking today

NEW DELHI: Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the first Indian astronaut to visit the International Space Station (ISS), is set to begin his return journey today. The undocking from orbit is scheduled to commence at 4:30 PM IST. Shubhanshu Shukla was part of the Axiom-4 mission, along with Commander Peggy Whitson and mission specialists Slawosz Uznański-Wiśniewski and Tibor Kapu.

The crew is expected to splash down off the coast of California around 3 PM IST on July 15. They are returning aboard SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft. Shukla’s return marks a significant milestone in India’s growing role in international space collaboration and scientific research.

During their 18-day stay on the ISS, the Ax-4 team conducted over 60 scientific experiments spanning biology, artificial intelligence, materials science, and healthcare.

One of Shubhanshu Shukla’s major contributions was the Sprouts Project, which studied how seeds germinate and how early plant growth is influenced by microgravity. The research aims to support future space agriculture. He also led experiments to assess the ability of microalgae to produce food, oxygen, and biofuels in space — key elements for sustaining life on long-duration space missions.

Meanwhile, on Sunday, Shubhanshu Shukla had a virtual interaction with ISRO Chairman Dr. V. Narayanan and VSSC Director Dr. S. Unnikrishnan Nair. Dr. Narayanan inquired about his well-being and emphasised the importance of meticulously documenting experimental data and other station activities. Shubhanshu shared updates on the progress of the experiments and the challenges encountered. He described working alongside ISS crew members as an exceptional experience.