India's first astronaut to visit ISS heads home as Ax-4 undocks

Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the first Indian to set foot on the International Space Station (ISS), is on his way back to Earth after a historic journey that has marked a major milestone in India’s space exploration ambitions.The four-member Ax-4 mission, operated by Houston-based private firm Axiom Space, undocked from the ISS on Monday. A live broadcast by NASA confirmed that the spacecraft had successfully separated from the orbiting laboratory. Splashdown is scheduled for July 15 at around 3:00 pm IST (09:30 GMT) off the coast of California, where a recovery vessel will retrieve the crew.
Led by former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson and piloted by Group Captain Shukla, the Ax-4 crew included Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski from Poland and Tibor Kapu from Hungary. The crew had arrived at the ISS on June 26 and was initially expected to stay for two weeks but extended their mission slightly to complete scientific objectives.The mission represents a significant collaboration between NASA, ISRO, the European Space Agency (ESA), SpaceX, and Axiom Space. Notably, Shukla becomes only the second Indian to travel to space, following in the footsteps of Rakesh Sharma, who flew aboard a Russian Soyuz spacecraft in 1984.
From aboard the ISS, Group Captain Shukla addressed the nation on Sunday, reflecting on the symbolic importance of the mission.

Live: @Axiom_Space's #Ax4 crew is ready to return to Earth! Watch as they undock and head home. https://t.co/sJdZcQjk2f

— NASA (@NASA) July 14, 2025

“Even though now it is coming to an end, for you and me there is a long way to go. The journey of our human space mission is very long and difficult. But if we are determined, even the stars are attainable,” he said.
Referencing Rakesh Sharma’s iconic words, Shukla added:“From space, today’s India looks ambitious. It looks fearless. It looks confident. It looks proud. And so, I can once again say that today's India still looks better than the rest of the world.”During their stay, the Ax-4 crew conducted 60 scientific experiments, including seven designed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). The mission is seen as a critical step toward preparing India for its own crewed spaceflight, Gaganyaan, which ISRO plans to launch in 2027. The agency has earmarked ₹5 billion (around $59 million) to support Shukla’s training and participation in the mission.Science Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh confirmed the splashdown time and hailed the mission as a turning point for India’s space program.
Born in Lucknow in 1985, Group Captain Shukla joined the Indian Air Force as a fighter pilot in 2006 and has since logged more than 2,000 hours flying various aircraft including MiGs, Sukhois, Dorniers, Jaguars, and Hawks. He is one of four IAF officers shortlisted for the upcoming Gaganyaan mission.Before liftoff, Shukla had described his journey as "nothing short of transformative."“As I go into space, I carry not just instruments and equipment — I carry hopes and dreams of a billion hearts,” he had said.Meanwhile,India is planning to establish its own space station by 2035(according to information),and aims to send an astronaut to the Moon by 2040. Shukla's successful space mission marks the beginning of this ambitious roadmap, placing India firmly on the map of human spaceflight.