Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the first Indian to stay aboard the International Space Station (ISS), is now on his way back to Earth following a landmark 18-day space mission under Axiom Space’s fourth private expedition, AX-4. His return aboard the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft is scheduled to begin with undocking from the ISS at 4:30 PM IST on Monday, with splashdown expected in the Pacific Ocean near California around 3:00 PM IST on Tuesday. During his mission, Shukla was accompanied by prominent international astronauts, including mission commander Peggy Whitson (USA), Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski (Poland), and Tibor Kapu (Hungary), forming a diverse and accomplished crew.

While aboard the ISS, Shukla conducted a series of cutting-edge scientific experiments and participated in educational outreach aimed at inspiring young Indian scientists. The mission, a collaboration between ISRO, NASA, SpaceX, and Axiom Space, successfully brought back over 580 pounds of scientific cargo, including high-value research samples collected under microgravity. Shukla’s active engagement with Indian students and researchers highlights the growing role of Indian talent in international space science and technology.

In a deeply emotional farewell message from orbit, Shukla thanked the agencies that supported his journey and reflected on India’s rising stature in global space exploration. “Today’s India looks ambitious, brave, confident, and full of pride,” he said, gazing down at Earth. “And because of all these, I can say once again that today’s India still looks better than the whole world.” His return not only marks a successful mission completion but also a new chapter in India’s human spaceflight aspirations, setting the stage for future collaborations and indigenous astronaut programs.