Joy for Axiom-4 team as Dragon splashes down safely; Shux waves with a smile

Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, along with three other crew members of the Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission, returned safely to Earth aboard SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft on Tuesday. The capsule splashed down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California at 3:01 PM IST on July 15, concluding their 18-day research mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS).

Shukla emerged from the capsule with support from the ground crew, waving with a broad smile on his waves. His return marked a historic moment for India — this was the first time an Indian had travelled to the ISS.

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The Axiom-4 crew undocked from the ISS at 4:30 PM IST on Monday. Nearly 23 hours later, the spacecraft re-entered Earth’s atmosphere on Tuesday afternoon. During re-entry, the capsule deployed its automated parachutes, enabling a smooth and controlled descent into the Pacific Ocean at a speed of about 15 miles per hour.

Following the soft landing, SpaceX and Axiom Space teams reached the site by boat to recover the crew. Ground personnel then conducted medical evaluations to assess the astronauts’ health. For the next few days, the crew members will undergo a re-acclimatisation process to adapt to the Earth’s gravitational conditions.

In a press statement on Friday, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said that after splashdown, Gaganyatri Shubanshu Shukla will undergo a week-long rehabilitation program under the supervision of flight surgeons to help him readjust to Earth’s gravity.

As part of the Axiom-4 mission – the fourth private human spaceflight operated by US-based Axiom Space – Shukla started his maiden journey for the International Space Station (ISS) on June 25. A day later, on June 26, he arrived at the orbiting laboratory, becoming the first Indian to set foot on the ISS.

Aboard the space station, Shukla conducted a range of scientific experiments — from space farming to muscle regeneration.